asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) how many firms are comprised in the pool formed of London merchants in grain and cereal;

(2) whether he is aware that, under the pool arrangement for firms dealing in grain and cereal, firms are reimbursed by the pool for their entire overhead charges, including salaries and other expenses; and, as this reimbursement amounts to a subsidy from the Treasury, will he put a stop to it?

The pool to which he refers covers the whole of the United Kingdom. The number of London firms included is 86. The annual payments made by my Department to the pool contain no element of subsidy but are restricted to remuneration for services rendered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any further provisions are being made for providing cooked foods to workers in rural areas who are not in a position to make use of canteen facilities?

Officers of my Department are taking all possible steps to bring to the notice of local authorities and others concerned the desirability of providing cooked foods for workers in rural areas as a substitute for a meal at a canteen or British Restaurant. My Department is prepared to authorise local authorities, responsible voluntary organisations, individuals certified by county war agricultural committees or approved local traders to operate schemes for the manufacture and distribution of meat pies, sandwiches and similar prepared food, in rural areas, and to issue the permits required for the necessary supplies of commodities. This scheme is not intended to replace arrangements such as have been set up in certain rural areas for the service of meals to workers from vans or mobile canteens. I hope that it will be widely adopted for the benefit of workers in districts where a mobile canteen service providing full-scale hot meals is impracticable.

asked the Parliamentary to the Ministry of Food, whether the weight of food served at public luncheons exceeds, is equal to, or less than, the weight of food supplied without coupons at works' canteens?

Less.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) when the scheme devised by the Ministry for controlling the purchase of oilseeds from India was introduced;

(2) how many firms of shippers are at present participating under the Ministry's orders regarding purchases of oilseeds from India;

(3) whether he is satisfied with the present policy of keeping alive firms of shippers who purchase oilseeds from India is a good one, in view of the unnecessary expense and waste of labour involved; and whether he will consider placing orders direct with the India suppliers and paying cash allowances to shippers according to their previous share of the trade?

The present purchasing scheme for Indian oilseeds was introduced shortly after the outbreak of hostilities. The Committee of shippers in London through whom purchases are arranged represents 56 shippers, of whom 18 are importing houses in this country and 38 are native firms in India, for whom the importing houses act as representatives. The present scheme is giving satisfaction and my Noble Friend is not considering any alterations to it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can now give any information in connection with the charge made against the proprietors of La Cigale and La Coquille restaurants, of having several cwts. of margarine without authority; whether other kinds of food were found; and where they got the margarine from?

The case to which my hon. Friend refers is now sub judice and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to furnish the information requested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why no prosecutions have been undertaken against vendors of national wheat-meal bread proved by the Ministry's own investigations to be of a composition in breach of its regulations; and whether he will instruct his agents to prosecute the worst offenders in this respect?

My hon. Friend is in error. The Ministry's investigators have not secured evidence that vendors of national bread have broken the regulations and therefore no prosecutions have been undertaken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the intensive trapping of rabbits, he will consider making regulations so that such traps can only be used under licence; and ensure that all traps are regularly inspected in accordance with the law?

The setting of spring traps for rabbits is already to some extent regulated by the county war agricultural executive committees, and they also have to be regularly inspected. I can see no justification for any further restrictions of their use in view of the imperative necessity for the destruction of rabbits in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Information whether it was with his authority that the British Broadcasting Corporation announced on Sunday evening, 26th April, that the Royal Air Force who raided Lubeck and Rostock had destroyed a large number of workmen's houses, and that it was necessary to destroy workers' dwellings in order to impede or disorganse the German war effort?

The B.B.C. does not issue news under my authority but compiles its bulletins from the same sources of information as are open to the Press. These, of course, include official bulletins and summaries.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has taken further steps to prevent the British Broadcasting Corporation from interspersing its news service with editorial comment and statements of opinion?

I have always faithfully conveyed my hon. Friend's criticisms to the B.B.C. and I am informed that he has on at least one occasion spoken to them direct. I am quite sure that they are doing their best to meet public criticisms about their bulletins, and if occasionally they do introduce explanatory matter they only do so in order to make plain to ordinary listeners the significance of what is happening.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings why men are being employed on Sundays, at double rates of pay, to relay the footpath at the bottom of King Charles Street steps?

The services of certain men became available from another job and they were therefore utilised. No men were allocated beforehand for Sunday work on this footpath.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he can make a statement in regard to the experiments his Department have carried out for pre-fabricated houses and the use of plasterboard or similar material for this purpose?

On assuming responsibility in October last for the production of pre-fabricated buildings, other than Nissen huts, the then Minister of Works and Buildings appointed an interdepartmental committee to consider design and to make recommendations as to types and materials to be approved. All the main Departments using, or likely to use, pre-fabricated huts were represented on this committee, together with the Building Research station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Numerous tests of buildings of different types of construction and made of a variety of materials such as concrete, plywood, plasterboard, and sawdust-cement were carried out, and certain types, including a plasterboard hut of new design which is now coming into production were approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of mincing machines; and will he take steps to increase the supply?

The supply of power-operated machines is satisfactory but that of the larger sizes of hand-operated mincer is unsatisfactory; steps are being taken to increase production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that the scheme for concentration of the cotton industry is not a prelude to its subsequent nationalisation?

Concentration in the cotton industry, as in other industries, was designed only to meet the conditions of war. It was not intended to create permanent changes in the structure or control of the industry.

asked the Minister of Supply whether it is the intention to appoint Government agents for the purchase of raw cotton in the countries of origin?

There is no such intention. The great bulk of our raw cotton requirements is being obtained as a result of inter-Governmental transactions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the instructions to the Royal Air Force who raided Lubeck and Rostock included instructions to impede and disorganise the German effort by the destruction of workmen's dwellings?

The objects of our bombing offensive in Germany are to destroy the capacity of Germany to make war and to relieve the pressure of the German Air Force and Armies on our Russian allies. No instruction has been given to destroy dwelling houses rather than armament factories, but it is impossible to distinguish in night bombing between the factories and the dwellings which surround them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether increased flying facilities will shortly be available to the Air Training Corps; and what progress is being made for practical gliding instruction?

It is not proposed to depart from the rule that cadets can only be given flying experience where they can be taken up in aircraft that are making flights in the ordinary course of duty (excluding operational flights), except that it has recently been arranged that special flights may be made for this purpose at certain flying training schools equipped with light two-seater aircraft. As regards gliding, preparations are being pressed on with as rapidly as possible and particulars will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the procedure for selecting Air Training Corps officers; what qualifications are required; and whether he is satisfied with the results achieved up to date?

Applicants for commissions in the training branch of the R.A.F.V.R. are interviewed by an Air Ministry Selection Board on the recommendation of the commanding officer of the unit in which the applicant desires to serve and of the chairman of the local committee or headmaster of the school concerned. Applicants must normally be of British nationality and between the ages of 19 and 55. Commissions are only granted to applicants under 41 years of age if they are medically unfit for general service or have been granted deferment of call-up. The results generally have been most satisfactory. I am glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging our debt to all those who are giving their services to the Air Training Corps, either as officers or civilian instructors.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement about the progress of the formation of the Royal Air Force Regiment; and whether he is satisfied with the scope of its activities?

Good progress has been, and continues to be, made with the organisation, manning, equipment and training of the Royal Air Force Regiment. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the six days embarkation leave allowed to a party of Voluntary Aid Detachments he knows of, detailed for service overseas, was interrupted at the end of two days so that passports could be procured; is he aware that some members of the party were brought from duty in Stornoway to Fifeshire and immediately sent on leave to their homes; that they were recalled and sent to Aberdeen for passports and then granted weekend leave to visit their homes in the South of Scotland and elsewhere; and why passports were not provided without depriving the girls of their embarkation leave and avoiding long and unnecessary journeys and expense?

Whenever possible V.A.D. members are granted up to a maximum of seven day's embarkation leave before they are sent abroad. V.A.D. members are employed in numerous establishments and it is necessary to assemble members selected for foreign drafts at one of the principal Royal Naval Hospitals. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the assembly point was in Aberdeenshire. Passports are not always required for foreign drafts, and in this instance the authorities at the assembly point had no information when they granted embarkation leave to these V.A.Ds. that they would require passports for their journey. When it became known that passports would be required it was necessary to interrupt their leave so that they could obtain passports, otherwise their departure would have been delayed and valuable passenger space would probably have been wasted. Instructions have, however, been issued which will prevent a recurrence of this misunderstanding.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now prepared to instruct his officers to supply Members of Parliament with information as to unemployment in their respective constituencies?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 30th April, 1942.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give in future the names of the units of the Indian Army taking part in military operations?

For security reasons it is not our policy to make known the names of actual Indian Army units taking part in military operations. It is, however, sometimes possible to make known the names of the regiments to which such units belong, and my hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that whenever possible this will be done.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information regarding an acute shortage of food in Trinidad, resulting in the public markets being stampeded; whether a food control organisation has been established with rationing and fixed maximum prices; and whether the agricultural adviser to the development controller has made any report regarding the food supply in Trinidad?

My information is that there is no real shortage of food in Trinidad, though there may have been a temporary shortage in isolated instances. A food control organisation has been set up and the Government has power to fix maximum prices, which it exercises in regard to certain foodstuffs. Measures of rationing are not, however, considered practicable in local circumstances. With regard to the last part of the Question, the question of food supply in Trinidad is primarily a matter for the Governor, but the Inspector-General of Agriculture in the West Indies and the Comptroller have, of course, made recommendations to the Governor regarding agricultural matters generally in Trinidad.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Trinidad franchise committee has decided to advise the legislative council to postpone the legislative council elections due in 1943 until one year after the war; whether such a decision has been put within the scope of the committee; whether he is satisfied that such a postponement is necessary; and what its effect will be on the proposed constitutional changes which were recently promulgated?

The Governor of Trinidad has submitted this proposal for approval and has informed my Noble Friend that it is based on the unanimous advice of his executive and legislative councils supported by all the members but three of the franchise committee who were asked by the Governor to consider the question. The proposal is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Lord Hailey is now employed by the Colonial Office as a civil servant engaged in fact-finding inquiries regarding reconstruction work in the Colonies; whether Lord Hailey is subject to the usual restrictions imposed on civil servants in respect of the public discussion of subjects on matters in which he is occupied as a public servant; and whether his speeches and writings on these matters have the prior approval of his Department?

Lord Hailey is assisting the Secretary of State in an advisory capacity with regard to post-war problems in the Colonies and questions of research. He is not a regular member of the staff of the Colonial Office. He is a most distinguished retired public servant whose advice on such questions is clearly of the utmost value. The second and third parts of the Question, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any action has been taken by the Vatican in view of their recent entry into diplomatic relations with Japan, with regard to the refusal of the Japanese Government to allow the International Red Cross to function as it does in other Axis countries and as to the recent treatment by the Japanese armed forces of prisoners of war in breach of international law; and what representations have been made to the Holy See asking for their intervention with Japan in this regard?

As regards the first part of the Question, I have no information on what action may have been taken by the Vatican in regard to these or similar questions. On the question of representations to the Holy See, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) on 22nd April. I would add that, as my right hon. Friend stated yesterday, the Vatican are being of material assistance to us in the matter of providing supplies for the camps at Hong Kong and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether British Overseas Airways Corporation, Limited, have estab- lished an airways fund under Section 17 of the 1939 Act?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air who are the present chairman, deputy chairman, chief executive member and the members of the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and what remuneration each received in the year 1941?

The chairman and the deputy chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation are the Hon. Clive Pearson and Mr. I. C. I. Geddes respectively. The chief executive member is the hon. W. L. Runciman, and the other members are Mr. Harold G. Brown and Mr. Gerard d'Erlanger. No remuneration is paid to the chairman of the deputy chairman or to any member of the Corporation as such. In accordance with the provisions of Section 1 (6) of the British Overseas Airways Act, 1939, the remuneration paid by the Corporation to the chief executive member is a matter for the Corporation to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Joseph Martin, of Brighton, complains that he has suffered damage by reason of the failure of the Foreign Office to put forward a claim by him against a foreign government; that the Foreign Office have denied any such neglect; why he has refused to refer Mr. Martin's claim to an independent tribunal; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider having this claim investigated by an independent inquiry?

I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the remarks which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, made on this subject in the course of the Debate on the Adjournment on 9th May, 1940. Mr. Martin's claim has not been referred to an independent tribunal because it is entirely a matter of discretion whether the claim of a British subject against a foreign government is taken up by His Majesty's Government and failure to do so gives the claimant neither in law nor in equity any right to make a claim against His Majesty's Government. The establishment of an independent tribunal would therefore serve no useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider setting up a Public Relations Department for the Treasury or Inland Revenue to explain the various provisions of Income Tax to the sections of the public who are ignorant of the principles on which these taxes are based, how they work and what reliefs and refunds are available to them?

As part of the policy of making the Income Tax understanded of the people to which I referred in my Budget statement, the Board of Inland Revenue have appointed one of their officers, stationed at Somerset House, to undertake the duties of a Public Relations Officer in regard to taxation matters. I would point out that this officer's duties will relate to general questions and will not extend to the treatment of individual cases. It is the duty of the local inspector of taxes to explain to any taxpayer any point in connection with his liability to tax on which he desires information and accordingly any inquiry in an individual case must continue to be addressed to the local inspector of taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate annual expenditure from national funds during each of the past 10 years on each of the subsidies and grants to all branches of industry and agriculture, including fishing, forestry and shipping?

The following table gives figures of subsidies proper paid to industry in the years from 1932–33. Grants-in-aid of the expenses of the Forestry Commission, the Development Commission and other indirect methods of assistance are not included and the statement does not include all the war-time expenditure which would answer the Question. In the last two years certain of the previous agricultural sudsidies in particular have in effect been merged in the payments made by the Ministry of Food for farmers' produce.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many persons are employed by the Air Ministry on civil aviation; what is the total amount paid in salaries; how many of these salaries exceed £1,000 a year; and whether these appointments are in addition to those held in civil aviation by employees of the British Overseas Airways Corporation?

The number of persons employed by the Air Ministry on civil aviation duties on April 1st, 1942, was 282, of whom 154 were employed at out-stations. Of these latter, 83 were employed at requisitioned aerodromes which are not used exclusively for civil aviation purposes. The annual cost of salaries and wages is £80,857. Five of the staff receive more than £1,000 a year. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the reports of the labour adviser, Major Orde-Browne, on his inquiries into labour matters in Mauritius and Malaya will be published?

The matter of publication will be considered as soon as the reports have been studied in the light of the current situation in the Far East.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that owing to the crowded condition of trains, soldiers are often compelled to stand in lavatories; and whether, in view of the particular hardships imposed on women by these conditions, he will consider reserving whole coaches for women or, alternatively, keeping corridors and lavatories free of passengers in certain coaches?

Although many long-distance passenger trains are heavily loaded, I am not aware that such overcrowding as my hon. Friend describes has occurred in recent months. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to adopt his suggestion; but, for the greater comfort of women passengers, arrangements have been made for compartments to be reserved for their use on long-distance night trains.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that on the 3.50 p.m. train from King's Cross to Newcastle, coaches are attached to the front of the train, which are taken off at Darlington, causing a long delay; and could arrangements be made to attach them to the rear of the train thus allowing the train to proceed on its journey without undue delay?

There is insufficient time between the arrival of the 7 a.m. train from Newcastle-on-Tyne at King's Cross and its departure as the 3.50 p.m. to Newcastle to remarshal it so that the special section for Middlesbrough shall always be at the rear of the train. The company is, however, examining the practicability of meeting my hon. Friend's suggestion, and I will communicate with him when I hear the result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the order for the obliteration of area signs has been almost completely disregarded by the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company in a certain area; and whether he will take the necessary steps to see that the order is complied with?

So far as I am aware, all the signs in the area in question are in accordance with requirements, and are identical in type and size with signs throughout the company's system. If my hon. Friend will let me know what signs he thinks irregular, and in what respect, I will have the matter further investigated.