asked the Secretary of State for War whether members of the Home Guard are subject at all times to military law or only when they are engaged on Home Guard duties?

A member of the Home Guard is subject to military law at all times. He is a member of the Armed forces of the Crown but gives part-time service when the Home Guard is not mustered, and military law has in practice no application to him except in relation to his position and duties as a member of the Home Guard and orders given to him as such.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued by his Department in regard to the possible release of men from the Army to return to work in the mines?

I do not think I can usefully add anything to the full information given by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines in his reply to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 28th April.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to make a special increase of pay to Commandos and Paratroops?

Parachute troops already get extra pay at the rate of four shillings a day for officers and two shillings a day for other ranks. It is not proposed to increase the pay of Commando troops.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions that staff officers at the War Office and similar establishments shall not use Army motor cars or petrol for social activities not strictly connected with Service requirements?

The use of Army motor cars for purposes unconnected with military duties has long been strictly for- bidden, apart from a limited concession, by which officers and other ranks have been allowed to use them on repayment, for private purposes, for one journey a Week, of not less than two or more than 20 miles from barracks or quarters, in the winter, and one a fortnight in the rest of the year, provided that public service transport was not available. In view of the coming abolition of the civilian basic petrol ration I have further restricted this privilege to cases where it is impossible, because of a unit's isolation, to get such recreation within a radius of two miles as is necessary to keep its members healthy in mind and body. I have also given instructions that it shall in no case be used for accepting hospitality from friends or relatives or for attending race meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a recent letter from a prisoner of war in Sulmona Camp states that he has only received one Red Cross parcel this year and has lost three stones in weight; and whether the International Red Cross has yet been able to ascertain the cause of the delay in the delivery of parcels?

I have not seen this letter, but the House knows from previous statements that the service of food parcels has been reduced in recent months. My information is that this camp got few parcels in January and February, but over 4,000 arrived in March, and I hope later information will show a still greater improvement in April.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will hold an inquiry into the quality of the coal now being sold on the Clydeside with a view to reporting on, steps to improve the quality and lower the price?

The quality of coal depends upon a number of variable conditions, such as the amount of dirt present in the seam before it is mined and the extent to which cleaning methods have been adopted after the coal has been brought to the surface. We receive complaints of dirty coal from time to time and we endeavour to secure supplies in the best possible condition, having regard to the conditions to which I have already referred. I do not think that it is necessary to hold a special inquiry into these general complaints, as it is far better to attend to specific complaints as they are reported. With regard to prices on Clyde-side, the retail price schedule for the burgh of Clydebank not only gives the maximum price at which each quality or "grade" of domestic coal may be sold, but also states the exact colliery descriptions of the coal which may be sold in each grade. It is possible, none the less, that coal has been sold at prices above those appropriate to the proper grade, and if consumers will submit cases to the local fuel overseer or to the assistant divisional coal officer when they suspect that this has been done, the complaints will be carefully investigated.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to make an announcement in respect of the replacement of part of the miners' free or cheap coal by an adequate cash payment?

I regret I am not yet in a

position to make any further statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is to happen to wives and families of men released for work in the mines who, finding no work, are now registered as unemployed; and is it intended to continue the allowances and grants previously paid to the families?

Allowances paid to the wives of serving soldiers cease on discharge to Class W Army Reserve. But, as I told my hon. Friend, in reply to his Question on 30th April, there were in the whole country only seven men released from the Army who were registered as unemployed, and these cases were being dealt with individually.

asked the Secretary for Mines for how long a period it is intended to release men from the Armed Forces to work in the mines; and the conditions as to grants and allowances for these men in order to meet their requirements as to tools and clothes, etc.?

Men are being released from the Army for a period of six months in the first instance. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 28th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the average output per man, per day, employed in the English and Welsh coalmines for the quarter ended 31st March, 1938, and for the corresponding quarter of the year 1942?

It would not be in the public interest to publish the figures, but I will send them to the hon. Member for his confidential information.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the actual output of coal per person employed in the industry; and what reduction in the consumption of coal and coke has taken place as a result of the rationing of these fuels?

It would not be in the public interest to publish the information asked for in the first part of the Question, but I am happy to inform the hon. Member that during the last two years the average weekly coal output per person employed in the coal mining industry was higher than the pre-war average. No "rationing" of coal or coke has yet taken place, and the hon. Member is presumably referring to restrictions on de-liveries. These restrictions do not result in any reduction in actual current consumption, because their object is the more equitable distribution of available supplies, by preventing those with a certain minimum of stocks from obtaining more.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied with the provision now made for protection against air-raids by means of indoor and outdoor shelters?

The scale of shelter provision is limited by the amount of labour and material that can be made available having regard to other needs, including the more urgent needs designed to further operations of offence. Subject to this unavoidable limitation, my right hon. Friend regards the provision to date as reasonably satisfactory.

asked the Home Secretary what progress has been made in clearing out top stories of business premises in vulnerable areas?

A great deal has been done to secure the re-arrangement of goods in such a way as to minimise the fire hazard, particularly in port areas. My right hon. Friend proposes shortly to follow this up by making an Order under Defence Regulation 27 (2) which will require the clearance on a much wider scale of combustible goods from the more dangerous parts of business premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are being taken to use the professional skill of qualified chemists now in the service as dispensers in the Royal Air Force; and whether he is aware that this important work in a large number of cases is performed by unqualified persons with little or no experience of pharmacy?

The requirements of the Royal Air Force are already adequately met by the employment of qualified chemists in posts where this is justified by the volume and complexity of dispensing work.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will issue the necessary instructions to ensure, as far as possible, that before an officer is commissioned he shall receive instruction in service and discipline procedure?

Except for general duties officers who receive their disciplinary training at initial training wings, officers commissioned from the ranks pass through an officers' course before posting. As airmen, they have, in any case, received instruction in Service procedure and discipline. Officers commissioned direct from civil life—who are now few —normally go through a course of instruction in Service procedure and training before they take up their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will take steps to ensure that skilled men called up under the National Registration Scheme are given employment consistent with their qualifications, experience and training in civil life so that their technical knowledge shall be used to full advantage?

All recruits for ground duties in the Royal Air Force undergo trade and aptitude tests on entry. Subject to the needs of the Service, they are then mustered in or placed under training for the trade for which they are most fitted by their qualifications and abilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give special consideration to men who are recorded as having failed at a trade and have been posted to general duties in the Royal Air Force; and whether, in view of the fact that the failure is often merely on a technical point, some further consideration can be given with a view to their specialised knowledge still being utilised whenever possible?

An airman who fails to pass his trade test on entry or on completion of a trade training course is not posted for general duties without full consideration being given to the possibility of giving him more training in his trade or of employing him or posting him for training in another trade for which he may have the necessary qualifications. Similar consideration is given in the case of an airman who, during employment in his trade, is found to be inefficient by a competent trade test board.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether he is aware of the discontent and unnecessary expense involved in posting Air Force personnel at long distances from their homes, and in frequent postings from one station to another; and will he take steps, consistent with efficiency, to reduce these causes of complaint to a minimum?

The many factors governing the posting of Air Force personnel are, I think, well understood throughout the Service and I am not aware of any general discontent with the present arrangements. Initial postings for duty depend on the requirements of the Service and the qualifications of the personnel concerned, but the location of their homes is a factor which is taken into account. Subsequent postings are restricted to the minimum consistent with Service needs while applications for postings on compassionate grounds are always carefully and sympathetically considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what changes have been made since September, 1939, in the membership of British Overseas Airways Corporation?

The corporation was established on 24th November, 1939, with the following membership:

Sir John Reith (now Lord Reith), Member and Chairman.

The Hon. Clive Pearson, Member and Deputy Chairman.

The Hon. W. L. Runciman, Member.

The following changes have since been made:—

On 28th November, 1939, Harold G. Brown, Esq., was appointed a Member.

On 6th March, 1940, the Hon. Clive Pearson became Chairman in place of Sir John Reith who had resigned.

On 6th March, 1940, I. C. Geddes, Esq., was appointed a Member and Deputy Chairman.

On 6th March, 1940, Gerard D'Erlanger, Esq., was appointed a Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether Imperial Airways, Limited, or British Airways, Limited, whose interests were acquired to form British Overseas Airways Corporation, have now any separate existence?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what parts of the British Overseas Airways Corporation Act are suspended or nullified by Order or otherwise?

By Order in Council made on 17th November, 1939, under the Chartered and Other Bodies (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1939, a new Sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the British Overseas Airways Act, 1939, was substituted for Sub-section (2) as passed. The effect was to substitute 3 for 11 as the minimum number of members of the Corporation and 5 for 17 as the maximum number. On 1st April, 1940, the date on which the Corporation came into existence, an Order was made under Section 7 of the Air Navigation Act, 1920, in pursuance of Section 32 of the British Overseas Airways Act, 1939, requiring the whole of the undertaking of the Corporation to be placed at the disposal of the Secretary of State. The effect of this Order is to enable the Secretary of State to override any of the restrictions imposed by the Act on the activities of the Corporation and by virtue of this Order the financial provisions of Sections 25, 26 and 29 are superseded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how much shipping space is at present used in importing livestock food, apart from wheat?

It is not in the national interest that details should be disclosed of shipping space used for importing feeding stuffs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why information was given by an official of his Department to a Press conference on nth March, regarding the proposals made subsequently in Parliament to replace the white loaf by national wheat-meal; what publicity was given to the intention to call the conference which was noticed only by certain trade journals; and whether he will restrain his officials from making unauthorised public statements which are often incorrect, examples of which have been given to him?

My hon. Friend is misinformed. The Press conference to which he refers was the regular conference held weekly by my Department, and the officer who presided over the Conference had been authorised to make a statement in keeping with that made on the same day by my noble Friend in another place. I am not aware that the statement made to the Press on this occasion contained any inaccuracies nor have I received from my hon. Friend the examples to which he referred at the end of his Question.

asked the Minister of Health why he seeks only for information as to the incidence of diphtheria among immunised children and not for information as to fatal cases of diphtheria amongst the immunised?

The purpose of immunisation is to give the maximum protection against contracting diphtheria: the proof of this protection therefore rests on information as to incidence of the disease.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from diphtheria were recorded in the years 1939, 1940 and 1941; and how many from measles and from whooping cough in those three years?

The number of deaths from diphtheria, measles and whooping cough recorded in the years 1939, 1940 and 1941 is as follows:—

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that hitherto admission to the Medical Register has qualified persons so admitted to offer themselves for appointments in the Armed Forces and to undertake civil practice, by what authority the Central Medical War Committee is now imposing further requirements, involving a further six months of hospital work after registration as an indispensable condition of admission to the Services or to civil practice; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

The arrangement under which a period of hospital work after qualification is required before admission to the medical branches of His Majesty's Forces was made at the request of the Service Departments and has been in operation since the early days of the war. Concurrently with this arrangement, all newly qualified practitioners are encouraged by the Central Medical War Committee to take hospital appointments instead of going into private practice, and if they fail without reasonable cause to take such an appointment they are liable to be directed to do so by a National Service Officer acting on behalf of the Minister of Labour and National Service under Defence Regulation 58A.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will expedite the claim of Mr. J. H. Murgatroyd for compensation for the right of way taken from him, about which the hon. Member for Central Leeds wrote to the Ministry last summer; and when payment of compensation may be expected?

I have been asked to reply. Mr. Murgatroyd is not entitled to compensation for the closure of the right of way while the land is under requisition for war purposes. Negotiations are, however, in progress for the purchase by my Department of the land over which the right of way passes, and on the satisfactory completion of these, an arrangement can be concluded with Mr. Murgatroyd in regard to the extinction of the right of way.

asked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how many women employed in his Department have received a pension on retirement; what amounts have been paid; and from what fund have these moneys been awarded?

Two women have received a pension on retirement, one was paid I2s. 6d. per week, and the other received 10s. per week. Both amounts were paid from the Staff Pension Fund.

asked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how many of his staff receive a weekly wage including the 3s. 6d. bonus for increased cost of living; how many are paid on a daily basis; how many, who have joined His Majesty's Forces and auxiliary Forces, are having their money made up to the full amount of their civilian pay; and what is the cost per week to the Department for same?

Thirty-five members of the staff receive a weekly wage including the bonus of 3s. 6d., and five are paid on a daily basis. Five members, who have joined His Majesty's Forces, are receiving payments that will complete their civilian wages, and the weekly cost of these payments amounts to£4 19s. 3d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that share-fishermen who lose their fishing gear by enemy action have no claim against the State for the value thereof; and whether he will take steps to rectify this hardship on Scottish fishermen?

Yes, Sir. The position is as stated by the hon. Member in the first part of the Question. As regards the second, I am in communication with my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of War Transport. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a conscientious objector was sentenced at Barlinnie Prison to punishment of bread and water because he refused to stand for the singing of the National Anthem on the National Day of Prayer, and under what statute or rule he was charged and sentenced?

"A prisoner shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence who shall disobey any order of the Governor or of any other officer."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many immunised children developed diphtheria in Scotland from 1st January, 1940, to 30th September, 1941; how many immunised cases proved fatal; how it is ascertained whether a child has been immunised or not; what period has to elapse after inoculation before a child is said to be immunised; and whether those children who have had a single inoculation are included with the immunised?

Separate figures are not available for immunised and non-immunised children who developed diphtheria prior to 1st January, 1941. For children under 15, half yearly figures alone are available for subsequent periods. During 1941 there were 996 cases of diphtheria among immunised children of which one was fatal and about 7,000 among non-immunised children of which 418 were fatal. Children were included in the immunised group if they had a full course of inoculation, although complete immunisation does not develop until three months after the last inoculation. Children who had only a single inoculation were not-included in the immunised group.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 13,500 cases of diphtheria notified in 1941 had been immunised; and what periods were covered by Sir Alexander Russell at his Press conferences, in February and April, when he gave the immunised cases, respectively, as 934 and 959 and the unimmunised as 7,821 and 6,886?

Of about 13,500 notifications of diphtheria in 1941, diagnosis was confirmed in about 11,000 cases. Of these there were 996 immunised children and about 7,000 unimmunised children. The figures referred to in the second part of the Question related to the year 1941; they were preliminary figures and were in part estimates since complete statistics were not available at these dates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the effect of the Export of Goods (Control) Orders, Nos. 45 and 47, 1941, is that consignments of cotton hosiery and apparel manufactured for particular markets are prevented from being exported; and whether he will consider allowing these goods to be disposed of on the home market?

Yes, Sir. These Orders were imposed because of serious shortages at home, and the prohibition has now been extended to knitted woollen goods. My Department will facilitate, by the issue of special licences and other means, the speedy disposal in the home market of such goods which otherwise would have been exported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what arrangements exist for obtaining extra clothing coupons in cases where a family have had all their clothes except what they are wearing destroyed in an enemy air raid; and, in particular, whether special coupons are issued to replace children's clothing;

(2) whether he is aware that a man and his wife and four children had their house destroyed by enemy action in March, 1041, and lost all their clothing; that they did not, for patriotic reasons, apply for extra coupons to replace their clothes until this year, when only 30 coupons were given them and they were told they could not have any more; and will he inquire into this case and ensure that enough coupons are issued to enable them to buy the clothes which are urgently needed, especially for the growing children?

Persons who have lost clothing by enemy action can obtain extra coupons needed to replace their essential requirements. This provision covers children as well as adults. If my hon. Friend will give me full details of the particular case he has in mind, I will gladly look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, approximately, the total number of persons at present employed in fuel control offices; and of that number how many are wholly employed and how many part-time?

Staffing arrangements for local fuel overseers' offices are made by local authorities, and vary widely according to the area. I have therefore no detailed figures, but I understand that in the locality of London the average number of staff would be four or five in each county borough.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the Fuel Rationing Scheme, women of every type of social standing and representing every kind of household were consulted?

Sir William Beveridge has consulted a large number of women's organisations and further consultations are taking place.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings what steps he is taking to ensure that the open-air theatre in Regent's Park is used during the coming holiday season?

Proposals for the use of the open-air theatre in Regent's Park are now under consideration, but I regret that I am not at present in a position to make any statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many soldiers sent home to their families Christmas presents from the Middle East which, on arrival in this country, entailed payment of Customs duties often very heavy in comparison with the allowances received by these families; and whether, as the articles which soldiers can buy as presents in the Middle East are for the most part dutiable on entry into this country, he will consider allowing each soldiers serving abroad one duty-free parcel of limited value per annum or charging a reduced rate of duty on one such parcel?

I am aware that Customs duties are chargeable as stated by my hon. Friend. I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, there is the difficulty of identification and it would also be impracticable to confine such a concession to particular members of the Forces.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of representations to the War Damage Commission of inability to pay war damage contributions owing to poverty; and how many of these representations come from people whose businesses or houses have been damaged or demolished by enemy action?

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. It is the practice of the Inland Revenue Department, which collects the War Damage Contribution, to give considerate treatment to a direct contributor who shows that owing to poverty he is unable to meet an instalment of contribution when it falls due. Where a property is unfit by reason of war damage, the War Damage Act provides for deferment of collection.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is satisfied that we are securing the maximum utilisation of machine tools; and what further steps are to be taken to direct machine tools to be used where they will secure the maximum output in the production of munitions?

It is hardly ever possible to attain the theoretical maximum utilisation of machine tools, and while production is expanding the shortfall is likely, for a variety of reasons, to be appreciable. While I am satisfied that a good deal still remains to be done, the position continues steadily and progressively to improve. With regard to the second part, the Machine Tool Control exercises wide powers to ensure that machine tools are made available where they can secure the maximum output in the production of munitions. New machines are not supplied unless the Control is first satisfied that full use is being made of existing plant. The Control keeps a constant check on machine-tool utilisation, and assists contractors to get the best out of their machines. As indicated in the statement I made in the House on 22nd April, it is my intention that the Industrial Division of my Office shall collaborate with the Machine Tool Control in developing these measures, in which I hope the Regional Organisation will play an important part.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum what negotiations have been conducted with the Petroleum Board regarding the rate of profit to be allowed the commercial body, and what conclusion has been reached?

To determine the price of the products sold by the Petroleum Board, investigations are made from time to time by accountants instructed by my Department. The results of these investigations; are scrutinised by the interested Departments and the authority of the Government is required for the prices to be charged.