asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether the petroleum permit for church-going covers all denominations, also Sunday schools; whether there is any distance limit; and what precautions have been taken to prevent misuse of the permit?

Yes, Sir. The purposes for which allowances of petrol may be granted include attendance at Sunday schools and at places of worship of all denominations, subject, of course, to the conditions indicated in my statement of 21st April.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that he has taken sufficient precautions against religious joy-riding?

Yes, Sir. In general, of course, people should walk to church. All I am doing is to provide discretion for the divisional petroleum officers in particular cases of old age, infirmity or particularly long distances.

Should not the position of those who have always had to walk to church be borne in mind?

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in view of the representations made to him by the National Joint Industrial Council for the retail food trades, he will give further consideration to the claim for additional coupons for overalls made on behalf of shop assistants handling groceries and provisions supplied to the public?

Yes, Sir, I am giving further consideration to this claim.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the high standard of cleanliness which the trade and the public rightly demand from these people, and will he also consider the high coupon value of overalls?

Yes, Sir, I will take those points into consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in view of the excessively high prices now charged for household furniture, he will consider fixing prices for same, so as to protect persons compelled to refurnish their homes after losses caused by enemy action?

Yes, Sir. I signed yesterday an interim Order prohibiting increases in prices above the current level. This Order will be published on Thursday. I have asked the Central Price Regulation Committee to submit further recommendations on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public will welcome his attempt to put a stop to this racketeering in furniture?

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by current prices? In any case they are already too high.

My first intention is to prevent their going any higher. I have said that an interim Order preventing further increases will be made. The Central Price Regulation Committee are advising me how we can bring about reductions below the present level.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate taking any action where prices are already proved to him to be exceptionally high?

Yes, Sir. That is the point about which I am taking advice from this very representative Committee.

Are any arrangements afoot by which good substantial furniture at a reasonable price will be provided for the public, under Government control?

We are advancing in the direction of the production of more utility articles of various kinds, but I cannot say that we have yet got as far as furniture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can give any information in connection with Greenfield, ladies hat manufacturer, Mora Street, E.C., who was charged at Old Street Police Court on 29th April for using 30,309 coupons to obtain rationed goods; and what action was taken in the matter; and

(2) whether he can give any information in connection with the case brought against Alfred Levy, of Forest Gate, West Ham, for unlawfully transferring 30,000 coupons, who was charged at Old Street Police Court on 29th April; and what action was taken in the matter.

The coupons used by Maurice Greenfield were wrongfully obtained from Alfred Levy. At Old Street Police Court on 28th April, Levy was sentenced to nine months' hard labour, plus a fine of£100 or a further three months' imprisonment. On 29th April, at the same court, Greenfield was fined£7,985 plus 100 guineas costs, and M. Greenfield, Ltd., were fined£3,330.

In the meantime, has the right hon. Gentleman completed the investigations?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the complete abolition of advertisement by electricity for the duration of the war, with particular reference to advertisements dealing with commodities generally unobtainable by the general public; and whether he has any statement to make.

Yes, Sir. As I stated on 28th April in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Lieut. Butcher), I am preparing an Order restricting many unnecessary types of lighting, including commercial advertising.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in any suggested scheme of fuel rationing, he will give consideration to the needs of people living in houses whose windows owing to enemy action have been destroyed and as a result of first-aid repairs are compelled to use artificial light all day, and in many cases need fires to counteract draughts occasioned by insufficient substitutes for glass?

Yes, Sir. This is one of the special cases which I already have in mind.

Will everybody whose windows have been broken be given a special priority?

We must try, with the help of my hon. Friend, to make the most effective possible administrative arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether it is proposed to make any extra ration of fuel available for the sick, especially workers temporarily disabled by rheumatism or bronchitis; and

(2) whether, before arranging the final details of the Beveridge Fuel Rationing Scheme, friendly societies will be consulted?

Special provision will certainly be necessary in the case of sickness. I shall be glad to consider any suggestions on this or other matters affecting fuel rationing which friendly societies may wish to make to me.

Will it not be necessary to provide more light for people living in Manchester as compared with those living in Torquay?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the proposed Fuel Rationing Scheme has the support of the gas and electricity undertakers, the Mining Association and coal distributors?

Sir William Beveridge and certain of my officers have consulted, on my behalf, the representatives of these and other interests which would be directly affected by fuel rationing. Many assurances have been received from those consulted that, in the event of such a scheme being introduced, they would cooperate in securing its successful working.

Will my right hon. Friend state quite specifically whether the representatives of the undertakings think the present scheme would be helpful or not?

Some do and some do not.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who do and who do not?

That would take rather a long answer, because there are a number of others besides those mentioned.

Will the right hon. Gentle-can circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether under any circumstances the representatives of company and municipal gas and electricity undertakings have ever assured him that the scheme was workable?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in any scheme for rationing coal and paraffin, he will take into special consideration the position of large farms and country mansions who will need to cart their winter coal supplies in bulk in May so as not to interfere with harvest and autumn sowings and who need bulk supplies of paraffin from time to time for milking, ploughing and lighting purposes; and whether he will receive a deputation, representing owners and farmers from rural districts, to put their needs before him?

The special needs of farms for coal and paraffin have already been brought to my notice by the National Farmers' Union. I am in consultation on the matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, and suggest that in the first instance my hon. and gallant Friend should get in touch with him.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also take into account not only farms, but other places a long way from railways stations, because of the difficulties of transport from the railway stations?

Yes, Sir, I will do that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of staff employed by his Department throughout the country, and what percentage, men and women separately, is of military age?

The total staff employed is 6,687. Of this total 11.3 per cent. are men of military age and 5.4 per cent. are women liable for service with the Forces under the National Service (No. 2) Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give names of advisers working with his Department; the firms with which each one of them is associated; and the amount paid to each of them by his Department or the source of their incomes?

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question does not relate to the holders of executive posts in my Department or persons who from time to time render technical advice. With his permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL

In addition, the following business members of the Industrial and Export Council:

NOTE.—The business members of the Industrial and Export Council place their whole-time services at the disposal of the Chairman and act as an Executive Committee of the Council. The work is divided by industries between the business members.

REPORT a statement showing the names of the advisers working within my Department, their duties and the names of the firms with which they were associated. None receives an official salary, and I have no information about their incomes from other sources.

Are we to understand from that Reply that the right hon. Gentleman is continuing the pernicious habit of the Ministry of Supply in allowing people to-work in his Department while they are still being paid by their trade associations?

I believe in getting as much advice as I can on this and other matters.

Following is the list of advisers in the Board of Trade:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library of the House a full list of contractors on the various Government Department lists for the convenience of Members?

My hon. Friend will realise that there are so many contractors employed by the various Government Departments—in some industries, all the contractors in the country—that the compilation of such a list would be a formidable undertaking, and it is doubtful whether its usefulness, when compiled, would justify the amount and diversion of labour and manpower that would be involved in its composition.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the position can easily be overtaken if he applies to the Civil Engineering and Public Contractors Association, who are willing to present the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a complete list of public contractors in the different areas, and will he consider that suggestion?

Will the Chancellor consider placing two or three of the contractors in the Library, so that we can have a look at them?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what action has been taken on the last Report of the Committee of Public Accounts with particular reference to the question of dual capacity and the future of the large capital equipment provided by the Government and installed in privately-owned or shadow factories?

In accordance with the usual practice, the Treasury has considered the last Report of the Committee of Public Accounts and has communicated its views on the matters contained therein to the Department, or Departments, concerned. The Treasury Minute is under consideration by the Public Accounts Committee in its current proceedings. As regards the question of dual capacity, the Treasury has expressed its complete agreement with the Committee's comments as to the basic principles which should be observed and has asked that in each Department the attention of the officers in question should be specially drawn to the terms of the Committee's Report. As regards the last part of the Question, I have been unable to trace a reference in the Committee's Report to the subject to which the Hon. Member refers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, the names of the 12 trade directors paid by his Ministry together with the amount paid to each of them and the source of income of the remaining 26 unpaid directors?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that these persons who are not paid by a Department are not deriving their incomes from trades they are being asked to administer?

I believe that some of those who are not being paid by the Ministry are deriving their incomes from pre-war sources.

Is the source being stated?

Are they better off or worse off since their appointment?

Following is the statement:

I have no official information as to the other sources of income of commodity and other directors, nor do I regard this as a matter which concerns my, Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will abolish the condition that a man who passes the requisite intelligence test cannot be assigned to the Army Pay Corps unless he has had at least a secondary school education?

Yes, Sir. An instruction is about to be issued under which men with an elementary school education will become eligible for enlistment into the Royal Army Pay Corps.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only two weeks ago, or just over two weeks ago, somebody was refused because he had not had a secondary school education?

I think that may be very likely. This announcement that I have made follows on a review of the previous practice. It was necessary at one time to introduce some kind of educational qualification because of the quality of the material available. Now there is a shortage, and for that reason as well as for any other reason it has been necessary to relax the conditions.

Will it be possible for those who were refused only a few weeks ago to enter the Army Pay Corps now, if suitable?

I must have notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the serious damage to food production in a certain area caused by manœuvres last week by tanks breaking through wire and farm fences thereby letting loose cattle, and by troops pulling down hay and straw ricks for bedding, etc.; and what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of this unnecessary destruction?

This case is being investigated at present, and until I get a report on it I cannot tell what measures may be necessary to prevent a recurrence.

In view of the importance of food production in war- time, will the right hon. Gentleman see that the orders given are passed on about not damaging unnecessarily farm land? He will remember that last January notices were issued which farmers could put up on the farms. Will he do something of the same kind now?

There is machinery in the War Office and in the Army to minimise the damage to farm land, and generally speaking, farmers are extremely well satisfied with what the War Office has done in the matter. As regards this particular case, I cannot tell, until I have investigated, whether there is some gap in the instructions.

Does that apply to all farmers?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that to say that farmers are well satisfied is hardly correct?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers have been reverted to unemployment since 1st April on grounds of age?

As I have explained in answer to previous Questions, no strict age-limits for retirement are at present being applied. The determining factors in deciding whether an officer shall continue to be employed are his ability to discharge his duties successfully in all circumstances, the extent of his knowledge, qualifications and experience and the current needs of the Service.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how many have been reverted to unemployment as a result of the recent Army Council Instruction?

I cannot give a number offhand. What I can give the hon. Gentleman is some figures of the people over 45 to whom alone the instruction applies—something like one in ten, and, over 55, something like one in three.

Could the right hon. Gentleman answer the question as to how many are involved?

The process is not completed yet.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that some senior officers in the Army have not taken advantage of this order to get rid of officers who are competent but a trifle independent?

I should think it extremely unlikely that such a thing would happen.

I take it that the right hon. Gentleman will take up any such case in which it is alleged that that has happened?

Every officer has the right of appeal to the Army Council, and whenever a case comes on appeal it will be considered extremely carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now any statement to make with regard to the organisation of the Civil Engineering Corps?

An Army Order authorising the formation of the new Corps will be published shortly. I am not yet in a position to announce details of organisation, which are being worked out now by a special committee.

Has the right hon. Gentleman got so far as to give this new organisation a title?

A warrant containing the title is being submitted to His Majesty.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average cost per day for food, clothing and boots for each soldier serving in this country and overseas?

The average daily cost of the ration issued in kind in this country is approximately is. 5d. for a soldier living in mess; that of his clothing and boots is 1s. 0d. Comparable figures for abroad are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he approves the continuance of the Home Guard pickets which the hon. Member for Streatham has brought to his notice, as the loss of a proper night's sleep to men who are fully employed in civilian duties each day can only be justified by essential pickets of military value, and as the men are deficient in weapon training which they urgently desire?

Yes, Sir. The military commander in the area in question considers these pickets to be of military value. I am making inquiries into the state of training of the unit referred to and shall communicate with my hon. Friend.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the men patrolling on these useless pickets are challenged by Regular soldiers who maintain guards at these places, and that these Home Guards, who are so fully employed during the week, and who are most anxious to do more work if it is worth while, lose a night's sleep which they require?

If the hon. Member has any further points beyond those mentioned in the Question which he wishes me to look into, perhaps he will let me have them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I brought this matter before the Financial Secretary and waited for some time for a reply, and it is only because I did not get a reply that I have asked this Question?

asked the Secretary of State for War why Home Guard battalions of which he has been notified are permitted to appeal for recruits to make good deficiencies in their numbers, as such appeals bewilder the public and men already in the Home Guard, and bring the laws and. the machinery of Government into contempt?

Compulsion for the Home Guard applies only to men between 18½ and 51, while men of 17 and between 51 and 65 are also eligible to join. Moreover compulsion was applied later in some areas than others and its application inevitably takes a certain time.

Having regard to the fact that it has been the law of this land since January that there should be conscription for the Home Guard, does the right hon. Gentleman think it proper that appeals should be made from cinemas and parades of Home Guardsmen, and that a comedian and his son should be featured in a movietone newsreel voluntarily joining the Home Guard two years after its formation?

That is a matter of opinion.

Are we to understand that the War Office conduct is based mainly on opinion and that they do not come to a decision themselves?

The hon. Member asked me for my opinion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a certain weapon has been preferred by the authorities for issue to the Home Guard in place of another weapon, of which he has been informed; and whether he is satisfied that a right choice has been made?

I have been asked to reply. This is not a matter which I can properly deal with in answer to a Question. If the hon. Member will get in touch with me, I shall be glad to furnish him privately with the information for which he asks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the one instrument is not preferred to the other merely in order to suit vested interests?

Yes, Sir.

Are we to understand that the pike policy has now been abandoned?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the concern in the engineering industry at the discouragement of the application of modern mechanical science by the Army authorities; is there a representative of modern mechanical science on the Army Council; what is the policy adopted in regard to mechanical experience gained in the battles; is there a satisfactory arrangement to benefit by the experience; and what further action is it intended to take to deal with his aspect of our war effort?

I am fully aware of the importance of applying modern scientific knowledge to the solution of military problems. I have recently decided to appoint a special scientific adviser to the Army Council and shall be making an announcement on this subject very shortly. Officers with the necessary scientific and technical experience are attached to General and Formation Head- quarters in theatres of war, and these officers furnish very valuable reports on the experience gained under active service conditions. I am proposing further to extend these arrangements.

The right hon. Gentleman said he was aware of the importance of mechanical scientific development. Will he take steps to see that the Higher Command in the Army are made aware of this, as the Air Ministry and Admiralty are?

The hon. Member seeks to create a distinction between myself and our Higher Command. I cannot accept such a distinction.

Is not the chief problem the fact that there are not enough people of engineering competence in the Government?

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are in progress and prospect on lands taken over for military training areas to dispose of fencing so as not to crush it into the soil, to preserve as far as possible sites of historic interest, to facilitate the evacuation and resettlement of land and other workers, and to preserve property and buildings?

The arrangements for requisitioning land for the Army are in the hands of officers of the War Department Lands Branch who are fully qualified land agents. They consult the Land Commissioners, War Agricultural Executive Committees and farmers and do all they can to avoid needless interference with food production. On the South Downs, to which I think my hon. and gallant Friend refers, a great deal of fencing has been removed but a certain amount is being left at the farmers' request, until the date when training will actually begin. I regret that it will then be too late to remove it. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah) on 28th April, we are taking steps to reduce the risk of damage to sites of historic interest. I am not aware that agricultural workers moved from army training areas have had any difficulty in finding new employment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the wire fencing in the area he has mentioned, that is, the South Downs, will actually be removed before the War Office take over?

I am very sorry, but I cannot give an absolutely 100 per cent. pledge. A certain amount of the fencing has been left at the request of the farmers. It will be impossible to remove that before training begins.

Will fencing be put round historic monuments?

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose the Royal parks are being surrounded with barbed wire?

The Royal parks are not being surrounded with barbed wire, but barbed wire entanglements are being erected in certain parts of some of the parks as part of the general defence plans of the area.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the enemy would find it easier to cut down this barbed wire than the iron fence which in many cases it replaces? Does he realise that so long as the public see this kind of waste going on they will not really believe that the Government are in earnest about waste?

Luckily, the removal of iron fencing is one of the few responsibilities which are not part of the duties of the War Office.

Was the barbed wire made from the railings taken down by the Office of Works?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider recreating the Territorial Army, for home defence only, by transferring 500,000 fit men from the Home Guard, thus providing a Territorial Army representative of every county, in complete and well-equipped divisions located in each command, leaving over 1,000,000 men in the Home Guard for static defence duties, relieving at least 250,000 Regular troops for service overseas, permitting 15,000 ex-miners in the Regular Army to return to the mines, without jeopardising home or Commonwealth defence, and utilising the experienced services of officers recently retired from the Regular Army?

No, Sir. Nothing would be gained by transferring 500,000 men from the Home Guard to a new Territorial Army unless this were embodied for full-time service, which would simply be equivalent to calling up 500,000 civilians to the Army.

I put this Question down to the Prime Minister, and it has been transferred, without my consent, to the Secretary of State for War. Having regard to the importance of the Question, which goes far beyond the scope of my right hon. Friend's answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a Board of Officers was assembled on 19th August, 1941, for the purpose of taking over the chattels at a camp, the name of which has been communicated to him; that they were unable to proceed with their investigation until certain documents had been placed at their disposal, and so adjourned their proceedings until 10th September, that the documents might be prepared for them, including a schedule of the chattels that could not be accounted for; and why the Board was dissolved on 9th September, the day before it was to have reassembled?

In view of the doubts which my hon. Friend continues to express regarding the accuracy of the answers which have been given him on this subject, I am sending an officer to investigate this matter fully on the spot and report to me. When I have received this report I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the function of the Central Medical War Committee in Scotland; and how long is it since the committee met?

The functions of the Scottish Central Medical War Committee are to advise the Government on the allocation of doctors in Scotland to His Majesty's Forces and to civilian services connected with the war, and generally to represent the profession in Scotland in any negotiations with the Government affecting questions of medical personnel. The Scottish Central Medical War Committee last met on nth February, 1942. Certain of its sub-committees, of course, meet more frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to grant facilities for Scottish Members to visit the National Fire Service College, since the Minister of Home Security has already issued an invitation for this purpose?

Yes, Sir. If Scottish Members who wish to visit the college will communicate with me within, say, the next 10 days, I will gladly arrange for them to do so.

While I quite accept my right hon. Friend's suggestion, will he take care that, on future occasions, after joint consultations joint invitations are issued? We should not have to apply to him in this fashion for what is, after all, not a privilege, but a right.

I will make the necessary representations in the proper quarter.

Will my right hon. Friend consider consulting Members, so that they can accept the invitation on the date suggested?

I do not know what date is suggested. I am leaving it to the usual channels.

Any day we are not sitting.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that the Scottish Members do not desire to be saluted on this occasion?

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can make any statement about the recent fire in the Commission's plantation at Borgie, Sutherland, the amount of damage, and the probable cause of the fire; and whether the person or persons who caused it were inside the Forestry plantation with or without authority and for what purpose?

Approximately 514 acres of Forestry Commission plantations at Borgie, Sutherlandshire, were recently destroyed by fire which started several miles away in the direction of Strath Naver, probably the result of heather-burning which got out of control. There is some evidence that, after the fire had reached part of the plantations, two subsidiary fires were started inside the plantations by some means unknown.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the forester at Borgie refused all offers of assistance from the inhabitants of Borgie and district, and is he satisfied that all reasonable steps were taken to put out the fire and minimise the danger?

I cannot answer that Supplementary Question without notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines why absenteeism in the West Yorkshire district has increased from 12.76 per cent. on 10th January, 1942, to 13.47 Per cent. on 7th March, 1942, and the output per man per shift at the coal face has decreased from 3.27 to 2.83 tons during the same period; and what steps are being taken to stop this decline?

The hon. Member is aware that it is not in the public interest, and is therefore contrary to Government policy, to discuss detailed figures of this kind.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the opinion of Mr. John Kane, an eminent consulting engineer, the main cause of the trouble is the working of the Essential Work Order and the pit committees? Will he examine and review the working of that Order?

Is my hon. Friend aware that the figures given in the Question completely misrepresent the position in West Yorkshire, and that this is another example of the old saying that, while figures cannot lie, liars can figure?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there is a uniform payment to miners returning from the Army to work in the mines; and what form the remuneration takes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards) on 28th April, in which full details were given. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this Answer.

Can my hon. Friend say when the returned soldier is likely to get a civilian suit or the cost of a civilian suit from the Army; is he aware that men are returning and have to work two weeks before they receive their pay, and that when they approach the managements and ask for a sum to tide them over they are only laughed at? Although the Answer of my hon. Friend implies that instructions have been sent, will he say what steps he will now take to ensure that these men have the wherewithal to live during the fortnight that they are at work without pay?

I think that the best way is to have the cases reported to me, and then I will communicate with the people who have not carried out the instructions in the circular.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of money paid to provide the guaranteed wage for time lost when work has not been available under the provisions of the Essential Work (Coal Mining Industry) Order, and the total amount raised by the levy to meet this cost, giving figures for each district in the British coalfields?

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of receipts and payments in connection with the levy paid up to 31st March, 1942.

Are any steps taken to ascertain the causes of this lost time and how far the coalowners or employers are responsible?

I hope that we shall get a full report. The House is entitled to a full report from time to time. These reports will contain the amount of the disbursements that have been made, and I can get the other information, if it is asked for.

Are there no records kept of the causes of this lost time?

I think that there must be a record of the accounts made up at each pit in regard to the guaranteed week, and we will ask for further details if we do not get an answer this time.

Following are the figures:

NOTE.—The payments shown above are subject to adjustment.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a staff has been employed by the Ilkley Urban District Council to make out index cards in connection with coal rationing; whether this has been done, or is being done by any other local authority; whether it was authorised by his Department; how much time this work is expected to take and the estimated expense?

All local fuel overseers were instructed on 13th March to compile, from lists of registered customers obtained from licensed merchants, district registers of the premises controlled under the Fuel and Lighting Orders. These registers are essential in connection with arrangements for improving retail distribution and eliminating uneconomic transport of coal. They are not being compiled in connection with rationing though they will certainly be useful in the administration of any rationing scheme that may be adopted. Completion was asked for by the end of April, but small consumers previously exempted are now being required to register and will have to be added. The cost is not separable from that of the general administration of the Fuel and Lighting Orders.

As this is certainly a special undertaking that has been placed upon these committee, does not the hon. Member think that a separate item should be entered of the cost of making up these registers?

This is an emergency measure, as the hon. Member understands, and if this arrangement is to be continued in the light of any further decision by this House, then perhaps the matter will come in for a general supervision like all other matters.

asked the Prime Minister what was the Government post offered to Sir Patrick Dollan; the salary to be paid; and the reasons Sir Patrick gave for declining the offer?

The only such invitation of which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is aware was one extended in the summer of 1939 to assist the District Commissioner for Civil Defence in the West of Scotland area. The salary of the post in war-time was to be£750 per annum. My right hon. Friend understands (hat the reason given by the Lord Provost for not accepting the post was that the Glasgow Emergency Committee decided he could best assist by devoting himself to Glasgow.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will confer with representatives of the United Nations with a view to augmenting and clarifying such clauses of the Atlantic Charter as refer to economic development, in order to enlist the sympathy and understanding of peoples of all nations.

Yes, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that Government spokesmen have frequently alluded to this war as a people's war; and would it not hearten the peoples of all the United Nations to have a declaration free of ambiguities about economic development after the war?

asked the Prime Minister whether any salary and/or expenses are paid from State funds to Lord Beaverbrook for the informal work he is performing for His Majesty's Government in the United States of America?

No, Sir.

How is it possible to control this gentleman's activities on behalf of the British Government?

Is it not a fact that Lord Beaverbrook was on his way home at the time that my right hon. Friend answered a Question on this subject last week?

I do not know.

Are we to understand that my right hon. Friend does not know anything about the whereabouts of this plenipotentiary?

The question that I was asked was, whether I knew his whereabouts at the time I answered the Question. The answer was, that I did not.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the disturbance of communications with China, as a result of the Japanese advance in Burma, any negotiations will be opened with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to evolve alternative means and methods of supply to China through Union of Soviet Socialist Republics territory?

Naturally, all possibilities of alternative routes for supplies to China are being examined, but it would not be in the public interest to give details.

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Captain P. MACDONALD:

52. To ask the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that adequate credit facilities have been placed at the disposal of the Chinese Government; and, if not, whether he will consult with the United States authorities as to what more can be done?

I understood that this Question was going to be answered by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

What is the answer then?

Who is going to answer?

I have not seen the Question. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put it down again.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that all the existing schemes of children's allowances, whether directly, paid or in the shape of rebates on Income Tax, tend to discourage large families by granting larger allowances for the first than for the second, and for the second than for the third and subsequent children; and if, in view of the impending danger of a steeply declining population, and of mothers of one or two children families being better able to wage-earn than those with larger families, he will direct an inquiry to be made by the relevant Ministries, or by a specially appointed committee with a view to reversing this tendency?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to indicate when the report on Family Allowances will be published?

I have been asked to reply. The issues raised by these Questions cannot, I think, be usefully considered apart from those that arise on the wider question of family allowances, on which I am publishing a White Paper. I hope to do this on Thursday.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this particular form of provision is unique in this country, and that it is contrary to all the scientific conclusions, which show that it is the larger families, and not the smaller ones, which suffer most from malnutrition, and which most need assistance?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the Civil Appropriation Accounts (Unclassified Votes, 1940), and especially to the contract for guns; and what action does he propose to take?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer on this matter last week. Since then I have spoken with the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, who, I understand, are to consider to-day the question of expediting their inquiries into this and other matters raised in the Report to which my hon. Friend refers.

Will the Chancellor take steps to ensure that penalties similar to those imposed for black market offences are imposed for offences such as this?

This is a matter which is to be looked into by Parliamentary Counsel.

Will the punishment fit the crime?

asked the Minister of Supply what exactly is involved in the statement, in paragraph 54 of the Appropriation Accounts, that the services of consultants have been dispensed with entirely by his Ministry; to what extent this covers all fields of his Departmental activities; and who will perform the expert work in the place of the consultants?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 30th April, 1942, to previous Questions concerned with matters arising from the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that it is estimated that it takes 7,000 persons to administer the supplementary old age pensions at a cost of£2,225,000 annually; and will he now consider increasing the flat rate of old age pensions so that the labour employed could be used for some other purpose?

The amount disbursed by way of supplementary pensions is about£30,000,000 a year, and in relation to this sum the cost of administration does not appear to me to be excessive. Moreover, the Assistance Board's staff are available for, and, in fact, employed on, the other duties performed by the Board, such as the making of immediate advances in respect of War Damage and various duties in connection with the Service Departments and the Ministry of Pensions. The satisfactory performance of these duties may make heavy and sudden demands on the Board's staff at any time, and even if the duty of administering the supplementary pensions scheme were removed from the Board there would be no such saving in man-power as my hon. Friend suggests. I might add that to raise the basic pension to an amount which would remove entirely the necessity for supplementation would cost over£100,000,000 a year.

Does the Chancellor not think that that amount would be well spent if it were given to the old people, and that these 7,000 persons could be doing useful work in other directions?

Do not the figures just given prove conclusively that the present scale of supplementary allowance is entirely inadequate?

No, Sir.

Is the Chancellor aware that he will get no parliamentary rest until this job is settled?