asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will consider bringing in a Bill to amend the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, in respect of the payments for gates and railings taken from houses for scrap-metal made to the freeholders of the land on which the building stands?

A new Regulation—No. 50B—setting out the manner in which compensation payable under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, should be calculated in respect of the severance and recovery of fixtures including railings from land, has recently been added to the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939-There is no intention of amending the Act itself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the rationing of rice in Ceylon is not working out as satisfactorily as anticipated; and whether he has any statement to make on the results of a survey of rural dietaries recently carried out in Ceylon?

I am not aware that the rationing of rice is failing to work efficiently, but the ration represents a substantial cut which is being made up by alternative foods, and it was expected that it would take time before this more nutritive but less filling diet would be fully acceptable to the consumer accustomed to a rice diet. With regard to the second part of the Question, the report of the survey has been received and is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the results achieved.

asked the Minister of Health how many nursery centres have been opened; how many are being prepared; and for how many children will accommodation be provided when the present scheme is completed?

The numbers of part-time nurseries, formerly called nursery centres, are:

141 in operation; 55 approved, but not yet working; 22 in an earlier stage of preparation;

For whole-time nurseries the figures are:

312 in operation; 484 approved, but not yet working; 254 in an earlier stage of preparation;

making a total at all stages of 1,268. With regard to the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 24th March last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the fact that approximately 16,830 of the staff of the Employment Exchanges are employed in carrying out the general ad- ministrative arrangements for the organisation of man-power, and that there is considerable idleness in many Employment Exchanges, he will examine this organisation with a view to releasing some of these people for other war work?

I am not aware of any basis for the suggestion that there is considerable idleness in many Employment Exchanges. The organisation and staffing of the exchanges is under constant review, and I am satisfied that the staff in post is essential for the needs of the work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered a communication, dated 29th April, from the London Chamber of Commerce, urging that the functions of private employment agencies should be restored at the conclusion of hostilities; and whether he will give an assurance that these bodies will be treated with the same consideration as businesses which have undergone concentration and the restoration of trade union practices?

I have received this communication and have not yet sent a reply. As regards the second part of this Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on 26th March last.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the demoralising effect of the monotony and idleness of Civil Defence workers' duty periods, particularly for men in the rescue and warden's service, he will take steps to provide immediate opportunities for these men to contribute to the national effort by participation in productive work?

A circular was issued on 14th April to local authorities explaining in detail measures to enable whole-time Civil Defence personnel to make a more active contribution to the general war effort. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular. These arrangements are being applied with necessary modifications to the National Fire Service as well as the local authority Civil Defence services. I would not myself subscribe to the implication in my hon.

Friend's Question that the duty hours of Civil Defence workers are spent in idleness and monotony.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland workshops for adult blind are frequently held up for lack of materials; that the above workshops are capable of executing Government contracts for brushes, mattresses, basketwork and other articles which are given out to firms employing sighted workers; and whether he will give careful consideration to the country's need for utilising the adult blind workers and thus releasing sighted workers for more important work?

I am anxious that full use should be made of the productive resources of workshops for the blind. If my hon. Friend will provide me with fuller details of the workshops concerned and the difficulties which they are experiencing I will have the particulars investigated in consultation with the Supply Departments.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases, up to 25th March last, proceedings have been brought against employers for disobeying directions of National Service officers to reinstate employees under the provisions of the Essential Work Orders from time to time in force; in how many such cases there have been convictions; what terms of imprisonment, if any, have been imposed and what fines; in how many cases, up to 25th March, proceedings have been brought against employees for disobeying directions of National Service officers to perform their work, present themselves for work, or remain at work, under the provisions of such orders; and in how many such cases there have been convictions, what terms of imprisonment have been imposed and what fines?

Up to 25th March last proceedings were brought in two cases against employers for the offences mentioned in the Question. In one of these cases the employer was bound over under the Probation of Offenders Act; in the other he was convicted and fined £10 and 5 guineas costs on each of two summonses. Up to the same date proceedings were brought against 308 employees for the offences mentioned in the Question, and convictions were recorded in 289 of these cases. Of the penalties imposed the fines ranged from 10s. to £30 and sentences of imprisonment from 14 days to six months.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any member of the committee, appointed to consider the question of recruitment of juvenile workers to the coalmining industry, specially representing Scottish interests; and, if not, whether this omission will be remedied?

No, Sir, I have sought to keep the committee as small as possible and it is not constituted on a representative basis.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons who entered the coalmining industry and the number who left it during each of the years 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939?

There are no figures to show how many persons entered and left the mining industry in the years before the war. I am sending the hon. Member the average number of persons employed in the years covered by the Question, for confidential information.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to control the increase in tuberculosis occuring in mental hospitals in which, from figures supplied by his Department, the mortality from tuberculosis in 1941 was twice the pre-war figure; whether this subject is within the terms of reference of the investigation by the Medical Research Council into tuberculosis mentioned by him in this House on 1st and 2nd October; and whether a report of this investigation may be expected in the near future?

The Board of Control are taking all practicable action to minimise war-time risks, within the limits of the accommodation at their disposal. The problem is being dealt with partly by bringing back into use verandahs for sleeping which have not been available owing to air raid dangers. The increase of tuberculosis among mental patients is being examined by the committee of the Medical Research Council who, I understand, expect to submit an interim report in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that complaints have been received of the failure in the receipt of parcels in Offlag IX. A.H.; and whether he will make inquiries?

The shortage to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is no doubt attributable to the temporary diminution in the quantities of parcels despatched from Geneva early in the year for reasons which were explained to him in an answer on 17th February. I hope that full issues will by now have been resumed.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what age officers are dismissed from the Pioneer Corps; and whether, in all such cases, a medical report is called for?

Strict age limits are no longer being applied. It is, however, the policy of the Army Council to review the general fitness, qualifications and experience of all serving officers who have reached the age limits appropriate to their rank at which they would normally cease to be liable for recall from the Reserve and to decide in the light of this review whether their services should be further retained. A medical report is obtained when necessary. Officers of the Pioneer Corps are treated in the same way as any other officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for copies of Army Council Instructions to be furnished to the Library of the House of Commons?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not see any reason for departing from the existing practice. It is only rarely that Army Council Instructions deal with matters of general interest, and they are not prepared with a view to publication.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount paid in war-service grants to dependants of ex-Service men during the last 12 months?

The amount paid during the last 12 months in war-service grants to the wives, families and dependants of officers, men and women serving in the Armed Forces was approximately £8,250,000. Current expenditure, which reflects more fully the improved provisions of Command Paper 6318 which had effect from the 1st November last, is at the rate of £11,500,000 a year, and this will probably increase still further.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a man with dependants who is discharged from the Army in consequence of the loss of a limb or limbs and who continues to require treatment in Ministry hospitals suffers a reduction of household and personal income despite any war service grant which the family may receive; and whether he will reconsider the whole question of treatment allowances with a view to improving the provision made for men and their families in cases of this kind?

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that arrangements have been made with the Service Departments that any man who has suffered an amputation in service shall be retained in the Service and continue to receive service pay and allowances until at least 28 days after he has been satisfactorily fitted with an artificial limb. With regard to the second part of the Question, the allowances payable during in-patient treatment are based on the pension payable for total disablement, subject to a small deduction on account of maintenance in hospital, and I am unable to recommend that there should be any differentiation between the allowances payable to a man who has suffered an amputation and those granted to any other pensioner who is undergoing treatment for his accepted disability.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum what are the arrangements made for the supply of fuel for the mobile canteens of various organisations; how much petrol and oil is provided for this purpose; and what sort of control is exercised to ensure that no needless mileage is run?

Mobile canteens of various organisations which cater for the requirements of His Majesty's Forces are, in general, regarded as commercial vehicles, are subject to the same control by the Ministry of War Transport as other commercial vehicles and, in addition, are supervised by the Services concerned. Mobile canteens for Civil Defence purposes are, in general, fuelled by local authorities who control the issue of petrol to these vehicles. I regret that information as to the quantities of petrol and oil used in mobile canteens is not available. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will give me particulars, I will be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the reasons for the removal of Mr. Cook Buttle and Mr. T. Byass from the East Riding War Agricultural Committee?

No, Sir. I have under constant revision the personnel of all county war agricultural executive committees, whose membership is subject, at my discretion, to such changes as appear to me necessary from time to time for the successful prosecution of the food production campaign, and I cannot undertake to state the reasons for my decisions in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to take over the fishing rights now held by private landowners and clubs in the United Kingdom, which prohibit fishing by unauthorised persons, with a view to increasing the supplies of home-produced edible fish?

No, Sir. The steps suggested would not be likely to increase the supplies of home-produced edible fish to any appreciable extent, even if the necessary organisation, labour, and gear, could be made available in present circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the numerous complaints made by small traders about the unsatisfactory distribution of supplies of point-rationed goods on previous occasions, effective steps are being taken to ensure that small shopkeepers shall get fair supplies of sweets and chocolates before the point-rationing of these commodities is introduced on 21st July?

With reference to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question I could not accept his statement as to the distribution of supplies to small traders. So far as practicable every class of trader has had its fair share of point-rationed foods. As regards sweets and chocolates current supplies are distributed to all retailers on an equitable basis related to their previous purchases. It is proposed to require a defined part of these supplies labelled as "reserve stock" to be retained as such by retailers until the commencement of rationing, and retailers will be wise in their own interests to comply with this requirement. Supplies during the introductory period will continue on the current basis.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether vendors of wholemeal bread will receive the same subsidy as provided for vendors of national bread; and whether he can give an assurance that no discrimination will be exercised against the former group as to conditions of sale or in other ways?

Wholemeal bread sold at the same price as national bread is eligible for the same subsidy, and may be sold subject to the same conditions. Some wholemeal and other breads, however, are made from "speciality" flours licensed under the Flour (Control and Prices) Order, 1941, as amended, to be sold at prices higher than national flour. Breads made therefrom may be sold free from any price restriction, provided that the vendor has available for sale national bread at the controlled price. Such bread is not eligible for subsidy if sold above the controlled price.

asked the Home Secretary whether there is any advantage in using Bommex instead of water for extinguishing incendiary bombs and fires; and, if not, will he take steps to prohibit its manufacture and sale?

I am advised that there is no known material which will deal more effectively with a magnesium incendiary bomb and the resultant fire than water: nor will an addition of any known composition to the water materially increase its effectiveness. I have, however, no powers to prohibit the manufacture and sale of such materials or liquids.

asked the Home Secretary what increase in the clerical and supervisory class of employees in the fire services has been rendered necessary by the institution of a National Fire Service; and can he give any estimate of what the cost of this increase of personnel would amount to in a full year?

Before the establishment of the National Fire Service the cost of administering the 1,450 separate fire brigades formed part of the general expenses of the individual local authorities and, in the majority of cases, the proportion of the cost of the various departments of the local authority service which was attributable to the fire brigade could not readily be determined. I regret, therefore, that it is impossible to quote comparative costs of the administrative and clerical staff before and after the reorganisation. Another consideration is that the administration of the Service in a small number of large units presents quite different problems and requires a radically different organisation, and for this reason also it would be most difficult to draw any valid comparison

asked the Home Secretary how many air-raid shelters in Newcastle-on-Tyne have been ordered to be pulled down and rebuilt; whether this was due to original defects in construction or design; what amount of money has been thereby wasted; and, whether any action has been, or will be, taken against those responsible for the construction or design of the original shelters?

The number of shelters the demolition and rebuilding of which has been ordered, is 2,975 (12 person units). The shelters were built to standard designs and in the majority of cases the need for demolition has arisen from the use of lime mortar in their construction. As my hon. Friend will probably be aware, a specification issued in April, 1940, at the time of the cement shortage, was erroneously interpreted by some local authorities as allowing the use of mortar ungauged with cement. In other instances, shelters were sited in narrow back streets and resort has been had to demolition because the strengthening of the shelters to present-day standard by the addition of an outer skin of brickwork would have reduced the width of the street unduly. I am not at present in a position to give precise particulars of the extra cost incurred. To do so one would have to take account not only of the relative cost of strengthening the original shelters as opposed to demolishing and rebuilding them, but also of the cost of incorporating the up-to-date standards of protection which have been devised since the original shelters were built. During the demolition of shelters no evidence of bad workmanship on the part of contractors which would justify action being taken against them has been found.

asked the Home Secretary when the demolition of the air-raid shelters in Rochester Dwellings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, was commenced; when the erection of substituted shelters will be completed; and whether he is aware that the dust arising from débris from the demolished shelters in the areas of the dwellings is rendering the occupation of the houses very uncomfortable?

The demolition of the shelters to which my hon. Friend refers was begun on 2nd September, 1941, and it is hoped that the construction of substituted shelters will be completed in about two months' time. The protracted period of exceptionally severe weather during the past winter has delayed the progress of the work. I regret that discomfort has been caused to residents by dust, but this has been unavoidable. It has been necessary to carry out the demolition operations piecemeal so as not to leave the residents without shelter, and the contractor engaged on the work has been handicapped by lack of transport for removing débris.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before any final decision is reached on the granting of children's allowances, he will consider a scheme of granting allowances in kind, based on the coupon system, which would ensure that the actual clothes and food necessities were available to the children?

I appreciate my hon. Friend's point. He may rest assured that all aspects of this difficult question will be carefully reviewed by the Government before any final decisions are reached.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of civil servants classified according to the hours group into which they fall, namely, the number who work less than 40 hours per week, the number who work 40 hours and less than 44, the number who work 44 hours and less than 48, and the number who work 48 hours and over?

As the hon. Member will have seen from the written reply which I gave yesterday, the hours which civil servants are required to work without additional pay vary widely, and it is not possible without considerable research to give the figures asked for. Generally speaking, the executive, clerical and typing grades work in normal times 42 hours in London and 44 hours in the provinces, and the minor and manipulative staff work 48 hours.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether advertising on behalf of Government Departments is undertaken separately by each Department, or whether the Ministry of Information acts as agents for all Departments?

The Ministry of Information is the central organisation for the conduct of Government publicity. It has set up machinery for the co-ordination of advertising on behalf of Government Departments and is responsible for placing advertising contracts for all but two Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mail-cars from the railhead at Lairg, Sutherland, to various points on the North and West Coast of Scotland are running on their winter schedule, consequently leaving Lairg daily before the arrival of the mail-train from Inverness, and that this causes much hardship to travellers, particularly service men and women proceeding on leave; and will he arrange for the former service connecting with the train to be resumed?

If this suggestion were adopted, there would be a delay of 12 to 18 hours in delivering the mail received on the first train at Lairg, which is much the heavier of the two arrivals. My right hon. Friend therefore has, so far, considered public interest best served by the present arrangement which has recently been under review. If representations are received from appropriate authorities to the effect that the public would prefer to suffer this delay in postal services in order to meet the convenience of travellers, he would be prepared to consider such representations.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is is aware that while banks were open on Good Friday and closed only for one day, Easter Monday, county court offices closed from the Thursday night until the following Wednesday morning; that whilst depleted bank staffs have had their annual vacation reduced from 21 days to 15 days, county court officials still have their four or five weeks; and will he, in order to cut down costs, cancel all bank holidays for the duration of the war.

My Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has power to open or close the county court offices on any day, whether a bank holiday or not. My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that county court officials have four or five weeks vacation at year. The offices are closed for a few days at the bank holiday seasons, and in addition the smaller offices are closed for one week in the summer. The officials are not necessarily on vacation when the offices are closed. The closing times are chosen primarily for the sake of the public. Litigation imposes on the parties and their legal advisers duties which have to be performed within strict time limits while the offices are open, and the respite given by the occasional closing is desirable to prevent the requirements of litigation becoming too oppressive. I think the costs are not affected.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give details as to the numbers of women police now serving and the police areas in which they are employed?

The latest available figures are those for 31st March last which show that the women members of the Regular Force and First Police Reserve number 358, and the members of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps number 3,296. There has been a substantial increase over the figures which I gave in reply to a similar Question last year, and I understand that further recruitment is still taking place. The table showing the separate figures for the various police forces is too long for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT but I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the number of policewomen serving in various parts of the country at the present time?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett). I am sending him a copy of the table referred to therein.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give for the five years, 1909 to 1913, 1920 to 1924 and 1934 to 1938, the numbers in each age-group then living?

Figures in the precise form for which the hon. Member asks are