asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the refusal of the Governor of Northern Rhodesia to meet the executive council of the Northern Rhodesian Mineworkers' Union on matters relating to labour legislation; and whether it is the policy of the Governor to refuse to recognise the accredited representatives of the trade unions?

The Governor recently received from the general council of the union a demand couched in peremptory terms that he should go to the Copperbelt to discuss certain legislation. This demand was accompanied by an intimation that if he did not do so the union would take steps that they knew would rectify the position. The Governor refused, and in my Noble Friend's view rightly refused, to comply with this unreasonable demand. If representatives of the union wished to go and see the Governor and put forward their request in a proper manner, I have no doubt that it would be acceded to.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to assist ex-officers of the Army to find civil employment; whether he proposes for this purpose to set up special appointments offices; whether these offices will be situated at local employment exchanges; whether he is aware that many ex-Army officers resent having to apply for employment at employment exchange offices; and how his scheme for assisting ex-officers will affect the work of the employment bureau for ex-officers, which is under the Adjutant-General at the War Office, and is being assisted in finding employment by the chambers of commerce throughout the country?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has invited each of the officers over the age of 45 who are now leaving the Army to supply full particulars of their qualifications for civil employment to the appropriate office of the Appointments Department, where every effort will be made to find suitable employment for them either directly or through the employment exchanges according to the nature of the work to be obtained. The British Employers' Confederation, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of British Industries have agreed to assist in this task by bringing it to the notice of their members. These appointments offices have been recently set up in 31 convenient centres in all parts of the country. They will, of course, in this matter work in close touch with the Employment Bureaux for ex-Officers and with the Officers' Association Employment Bureaux.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers aged 41 and upwards are now sent to serve overseas; and if, in the selection of men for overseas service, older men will be reserved for home service?

In making up drafts of reinforcements for overseas, so far as possible younger men and single men are chosen. But the large demand for specialists and tradesmen makes it impossible to lay down any hard and fast rule.

asked the Minister of Production whether he will consider the greater and more effective utilisation of Scottish woman-power by establishing more war industries in Scotland?

Yes, Sir. Steps have, in fact, been taken recently to place more work in Scotland.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at a certain factory the female medical officer has refused to examine an ex-Service man for employment in this factory, although submitted by the Ministry of Labour and accepted for specified employment by the administrative staff, on the ground that if this man was of no use to the Services he could be of no use in the factory; and whether he will take such steps as are necessary to enable ex-Servicemen to be usefully employed in this factory?

The facts of the case to which this Question refers are as follow. The candidate who appeared to be in all other respects suitable for employment disclosed, in the course of the routine medical questionnaire which precedes examination, that he had suffered from duodenal ulcer within the last five years. As all employment in this particular factory is shift-work, frequent changes in meal-hours are inevitable; and since work in such conditions would be likely to cause a recurrence of the man's former complaint, the factory medical officer told him that he would not be fit for work in the factory, and would be well advised to try other work. In accordance with the normal policy of the Department, the fullest consideration is given to ex-Service applicants for employment, and ex-Servicemen form a good proportion of the employees at this factory.

asked the Minister of Labour in which Civil Defence regions have there been, in the past 12 months, lock-outs or strikes, indicating in each case the number of man-hours lost, the nature of the employment and the number of persons of both sexes involved?

Statistics showing the number of disputes involving stoppages of work in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the years 1940 and 1941, the approximate numbers of workpeople involved, and the estimated number of working days lost in the disputes, classified by industry groups, are given in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for January, 1942, and corresponding particulars for the first three months of this year are given in the April, 1942, issue of the "Gazette." Separate details are not available for the various Civil Defence regions.

asked the Minister of Labour the view taken by his Department of the importance in the country at the present time of the paper-making industry; and in what category of industrial work it is classified?

The relative importance of an industry is determined by the Supply Departments and the Board of Trade according to the requirements of production. In the case of the paper-making industry, certain firms have been granted nucleus status by the Board of Trade and they have recently been scheduled under the Essential Work Order.

asked the Minister of Supply the figures of absenteeism in the Royal Ordnance Factories for the latest month for which figures are available?

The gross figures of absences from all causes in Royal Ordnance Factories for April, 1942, were for males 7.8 per cent. and for females 18.3 per cent.; and of these gross figures absences without cause assigned are for males 4.1 per cent. and for females 12.5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Supply the total personnel and the total salaries paid to all those engaged in all sections of the control of the cotton industry?

The total number employed in the Cotton Control on 30th April, 1942, was 510, with remuneration at the rate of £113,732 per annum.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in reaching a decision on maximum prices for meals at restaurants, he will take into account the difference between overhead expenses, such as rates and taxes, in the case of one restaurant as against another in order to ensure that the establishment with low overhead charges does not get an unfair advantage?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what were the percentage allocations of home-killed meats in the towns of Harrogate, Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley, during the last three months?

The information requested by my hon. Friend is as follows:

Harrogate, Leeds and Doncaster.— About 53 per cent.

Sheffield.—About 43 per cent.

Barnsley.—About 40 per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the South Wales and District Trade Association concerned with the distribution of potatoes complain of the condition of the potatoes received from Cardiff Docks for distribution; that there has been a shortage of potatoes in this area during the past month but large quantities have been lying at Cardiff Docks and have so deteriorated that enormous wastage has occurred and their condition when handed to the trade for distribution is such that they have had to be tipped out and rebagged, resulting in considerable loss; and whether he will take steps to deal with the matter?

I am aware that some potatoes recently distributed from Cardiff Docks have shown signs of deterioration owing to natural changes in the tubers when stored, but not that excessive wastage has occurred, nor that supplies for consumers have been inadequate. The potatoes about which complaints were made had been held as a reserve in case of emergency and have now been cleared.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to arrange summer camps for Air Training Corps squadrons; what percentage of cadets it is anticipated will be able to attend; and whether such camps will in all cases be on, or adjoining. Royal Air Force stations?

Arrangements are being made for summer camps for members of the Air Training Corps. It is anticipated that about 75 per cent. of the cadets will be able to attend the authorised camps which will be held at or near R.A.F. stations and under the control of the station commander.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether each Royal Air Force command has a public relations officer; whether these posts are held by Royal Air Force officers and of what rank; and what are the necessary qualifications for the post?

Public relations officers are attached to each operational Command of the Royal Air Force at home and abroad and to certain non-operational Commands at home. These posts are filled by officers of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. The senior post in each Command is held by an officer of the rank of squadron leader except in the Middle East and India where the senior officer is a wing commander. The principal qualification, in addition to the general standard of education required in a candidate for commissioned rank, is a comprehensive knowledge of journalism.

asked the Minister of Information of the 100 or so broadcasts in the Arabic programmes of the British Broadcasting Corporation, how many talks were written and broadcast by British subjects?

Out of 100 or so talks of non-Arab origin that have been broadcast in the Arabic programme of the B.B.C. during the past year, 69 were written by British subjects; the majority of these were translated and broadcast by Arab members of the B.B.C. staff. These talks represent a relatively small portion of the Arabic programme, which consists largely of news bulletins, together with commentaries and other spoken items broadcast in conjunction with the news.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in Post Office circulars of 22nd April, 1942, numbers 3706 and 3707, it is made compulsory on senders of telegrams to and from Northern Ireland to add the surname of the sender to the text of the telegram, causing additional expense in many cases, an instruction only hitherto applied to foreign countries; and why Northern Ireland is now to be treated by the Post Office as if it were a foreign country?

For security reasons telegrams to and from Northern Ireland are subject to censorship and this regulation is necessary to enable the censors to carry out their duties. These arrangements of course involve no suggestion that Northern Ireland is regarded as anything but part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

asked the Home Secretary whether any steps are being taken to secure that all partly damaged goods at docks and wharves under the control of the Port of London Authority are being salved; and whether he is aware that some of these goods are deteriorating and could still be used?

Extensive salvage operations have been carried out at docks and wharves belonging to the Port of London Authority, and a considerable quantity of goods has been recovered. The amount of partly damaged goods remaining that is deteriorating is small but is being dealt with as rapidly as conditions allow.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider allowing ex-midwives to practise, in view of the shortage of midwives in present war conditions?

Under Regulation 33 of the Defence Regulations, 1939, a local supervising authority may, by order, enable a qualified midwife no longer on the roll of midwives to practise for a specified time. My information is that 32 orders are at present in force affecting 136 midwives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the infamies perpetrated at the end of 1940 and during 1941, upon 3,000 women holding British passports who were arrested in Paris in December, 1940, by the French police, and handed over to the Germans for transfer to a concentration camp at Besancon just vacated by black troops; whether, and when, this camp was inspected by the International Red Cross; what was their report; and when was the same communicated to the British Government?

Early in December, 1940, several thousand British women, children and men over military age in occupied France were interned by order of the German authorities on grounds, they said, of military necessity, in a barracks at Besancon. His Majesty's Government immediately asked for an explanation of this drastic action and drew the attention of the Protecting Power to the necessity for relieving the needs of these unfortunate persons. Information received by His Majesty's Government indicated that conditions there were extremely bad due to overcrowding and the complete lack of any preparations for the reception of internees. Except for one visit by a delegate of the International Red Cross Committee in January, 1941, and in spite of repeated requests, no visits to the camp were allowed by the German authorities until April, 1941. The reports communicated to His Majesty's Government confirmed the earlier information as to conditions during the first weeks, but a considerable number of persons were released and conditions had improved. Shortly afterwards all the internees, except a few in hospital, were transferred to another place of internment at Vittel. This has been visited on several occasions and conditions are reported to be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether this country or any of the United Nations have been brought into consultation about a £10,000,000 barter agreement being negotiated between Spain and the Argentine?

So far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, the answer is in the negative. I cannot speak for the Governments of other countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the total number of transport organisations, employers and employees, respectively, that take part in the various committees of his Department?

Persons belonging to seven or eight transport undertakings, and to seven organisations of employees, are members of the main war-time Advisory Councils which assist the Ministry of War Transport. They act, not as official representatives of organisations, but in a personal capacity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the fact that injury to children on the roads is high, he will see at once that the lessons given by teachers to children before the war on Safety First methods are revived?

In close consultation with the Board of Education, my Department have recently been giving special consideration to road safety training in schools. As a result of a circular recently issued by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board, many local education authorities have re-started or have increased the instruction which they used to give. I have every hope that all local education authorities will follow their example, and that the police will continue to give their valuable co-operation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the regulations governing the conditions under which overtime is paid in the Civil Service?

The overtime arrangements for the main Treasury classes of civil servants are broadly as follow:

1. Messengers .

Overtime payment is made at time rate and a quarter for hours between 48 and 60 a week, and at time rate and a half for hours in excess of 60 a week.

2. Junior clerical and typing grades (the maximum salary in this group is £350 per annum, exclusive of war bonus).

Overtime payment is made at the following rates:

Time and a quarter for hours between 42 (44 in the provinces) and 54 a week.

Time and a half for hours between 54 and 60 a week.

Double time for hours above 60 a week.

3. Executive and higher clerical grades (the maximum salary in this group is £525 per annum).

Overtime is not payable unless 200 hours or more are worked in consecutive four-weekly periods, but, subject to this condition, payment may be made, at the ordinary time rate, in respect of hours worked above 184 (192 in the provinces) in such four-weekly periods.

4. Higher staff .

Classes above the executive and higher clerical grades do not receive extra payment in respect of overtime worked.

The above information relates to the established Treasury classes. The overtime conditions of the temporary and Departmental classes, which together now form the main bulk of the Civil Service staff, are subject to wide variations and it is not possible to set them out.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remove the Purchase Tax from the batteries required for the maintenance of deaf-aids?

No, Sir. I understand that many of these batteries are used for other purposes, and that standard torch batteries are also used in deaf-aids. In these circumstances, it would not be possible to confine a concession to the users of deaf-aid appliances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange that, in future, chimney sweeps be allowed the extra soap ration allowed for persons employed in dirty trades?

The only provision for the supply of soap additional to the domestic ration which is made at present enables the management of any industrial concern which, previous to rationing, provided washing facilities for employees at their work, to continue to purchase soap for this purpose. No extra individual rations have been granted for workers employed in dirty trades. I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, but in view of the need for the utmost economy in the release of fats I cannot hold out much hope of being able to adopt it. I would, however, draw attention to the fact that abrasive soaps are un-rationed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst householders in Glamorgan at the requisitioning of iron gates and railings, when little or no steps have been taken to collect scrap metal from collieries and other industrial undertakings, some disused; and whether any active steps are at present being taken to collect such scrap metal?

Active steps are being taken to recover scrap metal from collieries and other sources. The need for scrap is, however, so urgent that as a practical measure the readily obtainable metal in railings and gates must be taken at once.

asked the Secretary for Mines with regard to the recent strike at the Dorman Long collieries at Ferryhill, Durham, directed against the conviction of two boys for refusal to work underground, whether the prosecution was undertaken by, or with the approval of, his Department; and, as this strike was directed against the enforcement by the judicature of the law of the land, what steps were taken by the Government to suppress an illegal strike?

Yes, Sir. The prosecution arose from the result of failure of the lads in question to comply with directions to work underground from the Ministry of Labour's National Service officer. The chief conciliation officer of my Department intervened and addressed a mass meeting of the workmen who agreed to return to work after a stoppage of three days.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the pension granted to widows of commodores killed in action during the war 1914 to 1918; and what is it in this war?

The rates of pension provided in 1919 for widows of commodores killed in action during the great war were based on the cost of living at that time and were: —

Widow over 40 years of age or with a child eligible for an allowance in respect of the officer's death … £320 a year. Widow under 40 years of age and with no eligible child … £300 a year.

The rate for the present war is in both cases £260 a year on the basis of the present cost of living: the childless widow under 40 no longer receives a lower rate than other widows.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has given consideration to the consumption of electricity in the daytime occasioned in works and factories by the permanent blackout system; and whether he will consider amending regulations so that full advantage may be taken of available daylight?

The Lighting (Restrictions) Order requires only that lights shall not be visible from outside works and factories during the hours of darkness. No amendment of the Order is necessary to permit full advantage to be taken of available daylight.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the States represented at the recent meeting of the International Labour Organisation in London; what steps were taken with a view to postwar reconstruction; and what committees were set up for the purpose?

The recent meeting of the International Labour Organisation in London was a meeting of the Emergency Committee to which the governing body has delegate power to act on its behalf. The Committee is composed of six Government representatives, three employers' representatives and three workers' representatives. Representatives of the Governments of Great Britain, U.S.A., Canada, India, Mexico and the Netherlands attended as members of the Committee; representatives of the Governments of China, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia as substitute members of the Committee, a representative of the Belgian Government as a member of the governing body, and representatives of the Czechoslovak, Greek and Luxemburg Governments as observers. The employers and workers members of the governing body were each represented by a delegation of three members or substitutes.

The Emergency Committee decided to establish a committee consisting of persons who have had experience as statesmen or otherwise in translating economic facts into terms of policy. This committee will serve as a bridge between the International Labour Organisation and governments and responsible agencies who are forming economic plans for post war reconstruction. Its main function will be to keep itself informed of economic and financial reconstruction plans and to scrutinise them in relation to their social consequences and to the social aims of the International Labour Organisation. The members of this committee, who will be appointed by the Emergency Committee, have not yet been selected. The Emergency Committee also approved arrangements for a supplementary reconstruction credit designed to enable the International Labour Office, to carry out the work resulting from the New York Conference. Arrangements for co-operation between the International Labour Office and the Economic and Financial Department of the League of Nations and other international agencies, and proposals regarding the programme of studies of the International Labour Office with special reference to public works policy, migration, agriculture and textiles were also approved. The normal work of the International Labour Office regarding other questions is being continued as far as circumstances allow and it is expected that a meeting of the. Joint Maritime Commission to consider questions of war-time interest relating to seamen will be held in London in the near future.