asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet reached any decision on the question of assisting towards the travelling costs of transferred workers visiting their homes?

Yes, Sir. In consultation with my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, I have decided to introduce a scheme of assisted travel for transferred workers who wish to visit their homes. The scheme will apply to workers who have been transferred to war work by my Department since 1st June, 1940, and for whom no similar provision is available under any industrial agreement or practice. The assistance to be given will be the provision not more than twice a year of a warrant entitling the worker to the issue of a railway ticket at a cost of 7s. 6d. in cases where the return fare would exceed that amount. In view of the special need to restrict railway travel during the winter months this scheme can only be operated during the summer months. An announcement will be made shortly as to the date when applications can be received.

asked the Minister of Labour whether men employed in engineering work at a distance from their homes can apply for transfer nearer home for special domestic reasons; and what is the procedure?

If such a man makes his wishes known to the local employment exchange, attention will be given to the matter and the action he should take will be explained to him. I should add that full regard must be paid to production requirements in dealing with any such application.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Miss Martha McNaughton, 339, Warriston Street, Carntyne, Glasgow, who superintended the food rationing registrations of 14,515 cus- tomers of Shettleston Co-operative Society, Limited, who was called up and given full-time employment, where her duty was to collect the pennies from the workers there who used the putting green; and whether she has now been given other duties of greater national importance?

Miss McNaughton has not yet been transferred from her work with the Shettleston Co-operative Society. I presume the reference in the Question is to a clerical post in a factory welfare section which was offered to her, and which she refused; a small part of the duties of this post might on exceptional occasions be of the nature described.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figures of unemployed on the register; and the lowest practical figure to which he expects these to be reduced under present conditions?

The total on 16th March was 135,762, exclusive of 27,682 classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment. While I anticipate a further reduction in this total I should not care to commit myself to any precise figure.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any scheme of conscription of Africans for civil work has been adopted, or is to be adopted, in Nyasaland; and whether such schemes relate to private European employment?

According to my latest information the answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative: the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether full use is being made of the large available supplies of edible seaweed for the manufacture of winter feed for cattle?

A fair quantity of seaweed is used, both as an ingredient of compound feeding-stuffs and by farmers in coastal districts as manure. But the feeding value of those varieties of seaweed which are suitable for animal feeding is low, and would not justify any extensive use of transport and labour in making them generally available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken to guarantee security of tenure to tenant farmers during war-time where the land is being well farmed; and what protection such farmers have against new landowners who buy up estates thus presenting the farmers with the alternative of increased rent or notice to leave the farm?

The only war-time legislation dealing with this Question is Defence Regulation 62 (4A) which provides that where an agricultural holding has been sold in pursuance of a contract of sale made since 3rd September, 1939, any notice to quit given to the tenant so as to expire after 31st December, 1941, shall be null and void unless I give my consent. As I stated in the House on nth November, 1941, the primary object of the Regulation is to prevent speculation in agricultural land, and, as wide publicity was given to the terms of the Regulation, tenants faced with the alternatives of agreeing to an undue increase in rent or notice to quit should be aware that any such notice would be null and void without my consent. I would, however, not feel justified in withholding consent to a notice to quit if the tenant had refused or had failed within a reasonable time to agree to reference to arbitration as to the future rent to be paid for the holding under the normal statutory procedure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the minimum wage per county paid to women landworkers, other than the Women's Land Army; and whether he will consider a universal minimum wage for these workers, as is the case with male agricultural labourers?

I am sending my hon. Friend a statement of the county minimum wage rates for women. The question of fixing a national minimum wage for women agricultural workers was considered at the time of the passing of the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Amendment Act, 1940, and it was decided that the position would be met by the requirement of that Act that agricultural wages committees are to have regard to the national minimum wage fixed for regular adult male workers when fixing minimum rates of wages for other classes of workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether schemes are now in existence all over the country for regular winter pruning and spraying for small orchards whose owners are experiencing shortage of farm labour?

War agricultural executive committees in certain counties have adopted schemes for assisting commercial fruit growers to improve the orchards by pruning and spraying operations, and it is hoped that similar arrangements may be made in other fruit growing centres as and when trained labour and equipment can be made available.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he will give an assurance that petrol supplies for farming appliances and tractors will not be so reduced as adversely to affect the production of foodstuffs and agricultural products?

Yes, Sir. The importance of the considerations referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend will of course be given the fullest weight in any decisions regarding the use of imported oils.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he can now indicate the outcome of investigations in connection with the 450 motor-cars present at Newmarket races, on 14th April, and the 488 motor-cars present there on 15th April?

The initial investigation has shown that the majority of the cars came from areas so close to Newmarket that their basic rations would suffice for the journey. The remaining cases are being further investigated, and the House may rest assured that proceedings will be taken in any case in which I am advised that there is adequate evidence of an offence.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many men released from the Armed Forces in order to return to work at the mines are now registered as unemployed in the area to which they have been sent?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend that in the whole country seven men released from the Army are registered as unemployed. Of these, six are physically unfit for underground work, and if no suitable work in coalmining can be found for them they will be recalled by the War Office. There was a misunderstanding about the seventh man but I understand that he has now been offered work at the colliery to which he was sent.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the conditions of release of men from the Armed Forces in order to take up work in the mining industry were the subject of common understanding between the Ministry of Labour, the Mines Department and the War Office; if so, what the arrangement was, and whether its terms have been adhered to in recent weeks?

The arrangements for the release from the Army of a certain number of coal miners were agreed between the War Office and my Department. As I have previously explained to the House, all collieries were invited to apply to my Department for the release of former employees now serving in the Army at home for whom underground work was immediately available. The War Office is sending back to the collieries, from which applications have been made, men from categories eligible for release. There has been no variation in this procedure. The Ministry of Labour and National Service is concerned only with the very few cases where difficulties have arisen in the operation of these arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister whether the committee of inquiry into the conditions of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the other women's services are issuing a Report on their activities in the near future?

I understand that the committee have not yet completed their taking of evidence or their investigations in the field. They are fully aware, however, of the need for an early report and will make one as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the police force a B constable's pay was 62s. plus subsequent increases and allowances amounting to 13s. weekly, whilst that of war reserve constables, which started at 60s. has been increased by an amount of 17s. 6d. weekly; and what justification there is for the smaller increase allowed to the regular constable?

The pay of the Police War Reserve is related to the pay of the Civil Defence and other war-time services in which persons are employed on a temporary basis without pension rights or regular incremental scales. The comparison, however, which is drawn in the Question between the starting pay of the War Reservist and the starting pay of a regular constable omits important factors. First, the regular constable receives in addition to the cash emoluments stated in the Question free quarters or an allowance in lieu, is entitled to annual increments and has pension rights. Secondly, the sum of 17s. 6d. which is mentioned in the Question as the increase granted to the War Reservist includes the sum of 3s. 6d. which is not a cash payment but a postwar credit.

asked the Minister of Pensions why the orphaned children of a soldier who is killed receive less in allowances than those of a man who is taken prisoner; and will he rectify this?

In the case of a man who is known to be a prisoner of war, any family allowances which were in issue prior to his capture normally continue while he remains a prisoner. In determining the rate of pension which should be paid to the dependants of a soldier after his death, regard must be had to considerations other than those which apply in determining the rate of an allowance during his temporary absence on war service.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of pensions issued to civilians injured in this country as a result of enemy action?

Under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme compensation to civilians injured as a result of enemy action is paid initially as an injury allowance, which is followed by pension if the disablement proves to be serious and prolonged. Up to 25th April injury allowances had been paid in 82,000 cases; of these, 9,150 had, up to the same date, been awarded pension. These figures include awards to members of the Civil Defence Services injured on duty otherwise than by enemy action.

asked the Home Secretary in view of the fact that the War Department has no liability for accidents when Army vehicles are being driven on unauthorised routes, whether any proceedings have been instituted by the police against drivers for driving without a policy of third-party insurance?

If such a case comes to the notice of the police, there is nothing to prevent them taking proceedings, and my information is that such proceedings have been taken, but I cannot say in how many cases. Such cases are not separately tabulated in any statistical returns, and figures could not be obtained without imposing inordinate labour on the police forces up and down the country in searching through their records of motor offences.

asked the Home Secretary why it was necessary to substitute metal buttons marked C D for the previous buttons stamped A R P on civil defence uniforms; what was the cost of the change; and whether it is now proposed to remove the buttons stamped C D and substitute black buttons?

A R P buttons have not been replaced by C D buttons, which are being used to meet additional require- ments only. No additional cost is involved in the change of pattern. Both types of metal buttons are to be withdrawn for re-use when garments cease to be serviceable as uniform. Black plastic buttons can be substituted on the withdrawn garments if they are to be used as working overalls.

asked the Home Secretary the estimated expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1942, on the various local Civil Defence Services; and the proportion to be borne by the Treasury and the local authorities, respectively?

Particulars of the expenditure of all local authorities in Civil Defence General Services in the year ended 31st March, 1942, are not yet available, but it is estimated from the returns which have been received that it amounted to approximately £84,500,000. Of this amount, approximately £78,000,000 will be borne by the Exchequer. These figures take no account of the cost of equipment which has been supplied free for local Civil Defence purposes by the Government, nor of the cost of the Auxiliary Fire Service, now incorporated in the National Fire Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that, in an air raid on a South Coast town, people found shelters locked, he will give strict instructions that the first action of the Civil Defence authorities is to unlock shelters directly a raid is imminent?

Instructions have already been given that if local authorities decide to keep their shelters locked during raid-free periods as a precaution against pilfering and misuse they must take adequate steps to see that the shelters are unlocked on or immediately after a warning; to that end they have been advised to see that keys are in the possession of police, Civil Defence wardens and shelter wardens, and that definite arrangements are made for unlocking the shelters.

asked the Secretary of State for War what conditions were not fulfilled by ex-Corporal G. Mannion, No. 3710078, King's Own Royal Regiment, as alleged in War Office letter dated 15th March, 1941; on what grounds was he refused pension on discharge as being medically unfit; and under what regulation arrears of pension was refused after admission by the War Office that Corporal Mannion's disease was due to military service?

The condition not fulfilled was that the disability for which pension was claimed must be shown to have been attributable to military service. It was for this reason that Corporal Mannion was refused a pension on discharge. A pension was, however, later granted as the result of an appeal which brought forward new evidence. In conformity with the established practice of the Service Departments and the Ministry of Pensions, the pension was granted from the date of that appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the attention of his Department has been drawn to the survey which has been made in the United States of America of upwards of 500 German publications on the psychological aspects of war; and whether this survey is at the disposal of the enemy intentions section of the General Staff?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War the names and addresses of Army Welfare officers in Glamorganshire; what funds are at their disposal; and what kind of assistance lies within their competence to render soldiers temporarily in need?

The names and addresses are as follow:—

County Welfare Officer .

The Right Hon. the Earl of Plymouth, P.C. (Lord Lieutenant), 6, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff.

Local Welfare Officers .

Mrs. E. D. Baynham, "Bronwydd," Bronwydd Avenue, Cardiff.

Captain H. K. Benson, 61, Wind Street, Swansea.

R. P. St. John Charles, Esq., J.P., Newton House, Porthcawl.

Colonel D, Cope Harris, T.D., D.L., J.P., "Ty Newydd," The Grove, Merthyr Tydfil.

Lieut.-Colonel D. J. Davies, "Maesycoed," Warren Drive, Caerphilly.

Mrs. J. Dixon, "The Grange," St. Hilary, Cowbridge.

Lieut.-Colonel J. Downes-Powell, c/o Park Hotel, Cardiff.

Captain R. Stanley Evans, D.L., Bronwydd, Pontypridd.

Major T. R. Harris, "Fairyhill," Reynolds-ton, Gower.

Alderman Dudley Howe, "Fron Deg," Romilly Park, Barry.

Councillor G. Hitchings, 21, Aldred Street, Maesteg.

Captain J. Laidlaw Murray, 5, Cefn Park, Skewen.

Mrs. M. Lyttelton, Llandaff House, Fair-water Road, Llandaff.

Captain W. N. Morgan, "Maesydderwen," Mountain Ash.

Major J. Wayne Morgan, M.C., D.L., "Ty Gwyn," 6, Church Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

Lieut.-Colonel G. S. Nicholl-Carne, Nash Manor, Cowbridge.

Colonel T. Otto-Jones, M.B.E., T.D., D.L., 6, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff.

Mrs. D. Paige, Fairwater House, Llandaff.

Lieut.-Colonel R. T. Price, O.B.E., T.D., R.E., 10, Rugby Avenue, Neath.

R. T. Richards, Esq., J.P., 11, Picton Avenue, Porthcawl.

Major J. Trevor Richards, The Square, Tonypandy.

Major M. C. B. Sayer, St. Pagans Castle, Cardiff.

Colonel D. H. Thomas, R.E., "The Firs," Gorseinon.

Councillor G. Williams, C.B.E., 42, Bettwsy-Coed Road, Cardiff.

Captain C. Woodward, Laleston Cottage, Bridgend.

There is a Lord Lieutenant's Fund in the county, of which the county Welfare Officer is chairman. This fund disposes of about £5,000 per annum, including £200 granted from public funds through the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command. There are also at several towns, funds organised and administered by committees under the mayors, but I am not aware of the size of these. Welfare officers in the county recommend purchases and expenditure for the benefit of the troops in the county to the Lord Lieutenant's Fund, from which enough money has been available to meet all reasonable demands. They can help soldiers temporarily in need either from the non-public funds at the disposal of the county Welfare Officer or by referring the case to one of the associations interested in soldiers and their families. The Lord Lieutenant's Fund makes grants to the most prominent of these, the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association, which has 19 branches in the county.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any consideration, other than age, is taken into account when dispensing with the services of officers over 45 years of age; and whether such officers can be supplied with certificates, to be produced to prospective civil employers, in order to establish that they have not been retired on the grounds of inefficiency, ill-health or lack of ability?

Yes, Sir. The determining factor is not the officer's age but his ability to discharge his present duty successfully in all possible circumstances. Every officer relegated to unemployment under the review receives from the Army Council a letter of thanks for his services, which makes it clear that his relegation to unemployment is not regarded in any way as a reflection upon his past service character or conduct. He also receives a letter inviting him to apply to the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour and National Service and to certain voluntary organisations if he wants help in getting civil employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now found it possible to arrange for the circulation of a leaflet setting out the measures taken by His Majesty's Government in connection with prisoners of war in the hands of the Japanese Government?

Yes, Sir. A leaflet has now been prepared on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, and I have arranged for copies to be made available in the Vote Office to-day.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the proposed tour of Sir Cosmo Parkinson can be taken as a precedent for instituting a system of regular inspection of Colonial administration on the spot by responsible officers from his Department?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald). It would be incorrect to describe these arrangements as instituting a system of "inspection."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, since the introduction of standard flour for bread, the consumption of this commodity has lessened?.

The present weekly rate of disappearance of flour is approximately the same as in 1941. Since the change-over from white bread to national bread some bakers' sales have increased and some have decreased. There is no evidence that there has been any general decline in bread consumption but it is too soon to determine whether any change in consumption over a long period may be expected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the increasing difficulty in obtaining supplies of butter from Australia and New Zealand, he will consider negotiating a barter arrangement with the Irish Government whereby we provide the Irish margarine factories with refined edible oils and fats in exchange for an equivalent quantity of butter, the difference in value being adjusted by sending Eire such wanted commodities as coal or tea?

No, Sir. An arrangement such as that suggested by my hon. Friend would not lead to any improvement in the total supplies of fats in the United Kingdom, whereas it would involve a drain on coal or tea supplies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to introduce legislation to prevent the continued profiteering in the letting of furnished dwellings?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the answer I gave last September to a Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Peckham (Mr. Silkin) in which I indicated that the reports I had received from local authorities gave no evidence of any rent-profiteering in the greater part of the country and suggested that where com-plaints had been made local authorities were able to deal with them adequately under their existing powers. I am now awaiting further reports from the local authorities covering the past six months and I will review the matter again in the light of the evidence they furnish.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the considerable hardship caused to water consumers, supplied by the Southend Waterworks Company, by the increases of the company's percentage rate from a pre-war level of 9 per cent. to 14 per cent.; and whether he will consider making a full investigation into the company's financial affairs with a view to making a Government grant to make good any loss due to wartime conditions?

I am aware that over a period of years the Southend Waterworks Company had progressively reduced their charges for domestic water supplies from 18 per cent. on annual value, which is the maximum rate authorised by Parliament in this company's special Acts, to 9 per cent. in 1937; that the company have not been able to maintain this reduction in war conditions; and that in June, 1941, they decided to increase the charge from II per cent. to 14 per cent. It has been arranged that, notwithstanding the statutory position, no further increase will be made in these charges without my prior approval. I cannot hold out any hope of a Government grant to make good losses of revenue attributable to war conditions.

asked the Minister of Health the cost to the ratepayers of the diphtheria immunisation scheme in operation at Bedford, including administration and advertising expenses, since its inception up to date; how many cases of diphtheria have occurred during this period; and the number of cases and deaths among the inoculated and uninoculated children, respectively?

The desired information is not readily available, and inquiries will be necessary. I will communicate further with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish an estimate of the proportion of pre-packed drugs which are sold to the public other than through registered pharmacists?

I have no information on which to base an official estimate, but I understand that the proportion is in some quarters estimated at about 20 or 25 per cent.

asked the Home Secretary how many registered medical practitioners are employed in his Department; and whether any effort has been made to substitute senior practitioners for practitioners of military age who could be released to the armed Services?

Eight medical practitioners are at present employed in the Home Office and seven in the Ministry of Home Security. Of these only one in the Home Office and three in the Ministry of Home Security are men under 51 years of age. The Central Medical War Committee of the British Medical Association have granted deferment until September, 1942, in the case of the Home Office official. Two of the Ministry of Home Security officers are leaving the Department at the end of the month, and it has already been agreed with the Central Medical War Committee that the remaining officer will be replaced by an older man as soon as they can find a suitable substitute.

asked the Paymaster-General whether, when making plans for demobilisation after the war, he will, in association with those in charge of the Service Departments, give favourable consideration to the early release, where practicable, of those men who have had to close down one-man businesses when called up?

The question of the machinery which will be necessary for securing that release from the Forces can be effected according to an orderly system of priorities, and cognate questions are being considered by an Interdepartmental Committee and I will see that my hon. Friend's suggestion is brought to their notice.