asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement upon the result of the investigation into the strike which continued for four days at a North West factory owing to the attitude of a foreman towards the workpeople?

I received a report of the Board of Investigation yesterday and am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the restrictive policy imposed on employment, agencies and the like, under the Essential Work Orders, it is proposed to continue the operation of these Orders after the cessation of hostilities?

These Orders will cease to have effect at the end of the war unless Parliament otherwise determines. I cannot at this date attempt to forecast the policy which Parliament will be asked to approve in this connection.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that employers in the Port of London refuse to pay electrical trades union workers, transferred by them out of the port, the rates of pay they received in London or the rates in the district to which they are transferred, whichever may be the higher; and whether, as the provision of electrical machinery and fittings for both naval and mercantile vessels has become increasingly urgent, he will, if required, take additional powers to end the dead lock prevailing?

No case has been brought to my notice in which employers in the Port of London are transferring electricians out of the Port otherwise than in accordance with the Port rules. My hon. Friend may, however, be referring to transfers made by my Department in accordance with legal powers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that nearly three years of war have elapsed since our organisation of man-power commenced, some of the staff who were engaged in this organisation can be trans ferred for national employment in other directions?

No, Sir. With increasing stringency the difficulty and complexity of the task must also increase.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors are now being employed in the heavy woollen district of the West Riding; and whether he is aware of the complaints being made by operatives regarding sanitary arrangements in some factories?

Factory inspectors' districts do not exactly correspond with heavy woollen areas and district staffs are assisted to some extent by inspectors from divisional offices. Excluding the latter, the district staffs concerned with heavy woollen areas in the West Riding total roughly seven. I am not personally aware of the complaints mentioned. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars, I will have inquiry made, but I would point out that while the responsibility rests on me to lay down standards as to the sanitary conveniences required, the Factories Act places on the sanitary authority the responsibility for enforcing these provisions. It is only if the sanitary authority fails in its duty that the factory inspector has power to take action.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is an adequate number of inspectors?

I am not satisfied with the total number of factory inspectors at all, but I am handicapped by the present war situation with regard to personnel. I feel that at a later date the numbers of factory inspectors will have to be overhauled.

Is it not the duty of local authorities to see that factories are in a satisfactory condition?.

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour why he has placed an embargo upon the supply of labour in a factory in the South; and whether that embargo is still in existence?

This embargo was imposed on account of the apparently inefficient use of labour by the firm and is being maintained pending the result of an investigation which is being made by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will reconsider the claim for payment of grant for an air-raid shelter made by a company, particulars of which have been sent to him, as, although the shelter was not erected within the prescribed three months of the Civil Defence (Specified Areas) (No. 2) Order, this was due to evacuation and the consequent reduction in the staff; that they erected a shelter as soon as their employees approximated 50; and whether, in view of the financial difficulties of the company, he will take into account these special circumstances and decide in their favour?

I am aware that the company provided an air-raid shelter as soon as their staff totalled approximately 50 persons. It is, however, an indispensable precedent to the payment of grant that the shelter should be provided, or preparatory measures taken for its provision, within three months from the date of specification of the area in which it is situated, and I regret that I cannot authorise any departure from this rule.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, if this company had taken action earlier, it might have led to a great waste of public money and that the reason they did not take action earlier was not any fault of theirs?

I am not aware of the last point, but the rule is there, and I do not think that I should depart from it, otherwise I should be in difficulties in a large number of other cases.

Could not these cases be considered on their merits? Is not this red tape to the last degree?

If the case were considered on its merit, the same answer would be given.

asked the Home Secretary how many applications he has received to date for Morrison shelters; how many have been granted; and whether the supply will keep pace with the demand?

The responsibility for considering applications for indoor table shelters from the residents of areas in which such shelters have been made available, rests with the local authorities. Sufficient shelters to cover all approved applications have been allocated to the local authorities concerned and the supply so far has kept pace with the demand.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make a comprehensive statement on the part-time employment, on munition and other war work, of paid Civil Defence workers in their on-duty and off-duty periods?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make any statement about the better utilisation of the spare time available to Civil Defence workers; and to what extent it has been possible to make arrangements for them to do part-time munition work?

No, Sir. On 14th April last I laid down general lines of policy in a circular, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friends a copy, and the time has not yet come to make any comprehensive progress report.

asked the Home Secretary whether, since it is made obligatory on every inhabitant of the United Kingdom to possess an identity card, he will adopt such precautionary measures as will prevent anyone from a neutral country entering any part of the United Kingdom without a valid identity card?

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that all persons in Northern Ireland are required to be in possession of an identity document which must be produced, to the police on demand. As regards control of entry of persons from Eire into Northern Ireland I would refer him to my Reply to his Question on 14th May.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my own constituency at Newry Petty Sessions last week seven young airmen, one a deserter from the Eire Army, were charged with entering Northern Ireland without proper identity cards, and that in their evidence, according to the Press, they stated that they had purchased their identity cards from men at Dundalk. Does he consider the arrangements for crossing the border far too lax and a positive danger to the State?

No, Sir, I do not think that is suitable, and we do all we can to meet these points, but I do not think the hon. Member's proposal is a wise one. Last week he was asking me to relax the rule of entry to Ireland from Great Britain. He rather turns about from week to week in his security reasons.

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, and I have pressed for freer travelling facilities between Britain and Northern Ireland, but I deny that I have ever done anything except ask for the strictest care to be exercised in allowing people to cross the border from neutral Eire into Northern Ireland.

Why is it not possible to demand the production of an identity card from every citizen of Eire entering Northern Ireland?

That would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.

No, Sir, it is a matter for the right hon. Gentleman. Under the Northern Ireland Act, 1920, all entry into Northern Ireland depends on the Home Secretary of Great Britain.

I will look into that point. Nevertheless, the Northern Ireland Government have a very efficient police organisation.

It cannot control the entry of aliens into Northern Ireland.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the work being performed by a detainee under Regulation 18B in Brixton Prison is not of a penal nature; on what grounds 3s. a week can be considered adequate remuneration for the work of a man who has been convicted of no offence; and for what reason such inadequate pay as 6d. a day is given to women detainees working in Holloway Prison, which rate of remuneration, allowing for board and lodging, is much less than that which can be earned by a domestic servant.

I do not think that any useful work which is voluntarily undertaken can properly be described as of a penal nature. Such work is rather an alleviation of the conditions of confinement. As regards remuneration, the cost to the public of accommodating, maintaining and guarding these people would exceed the value of their labour even if they worked with energy and application, and while it is right that some payment should be made as an inducement and a reward to those who choose to work, I do not think that the taxpayers in addition to providing for the maintenance and custody of persons detained under this Regulation could properly be expected to pay them wages at rates comparable with those earned by free workers who have to keep themselves.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the sewing of mail bags, which is usually work given to convicts, is not of a penal nature suitable for detainees convicted under 18B?

That is peculiar to those who are in prison, but the work is not obligatory on detainees and cannot be of a penal nature, whatever it is.

Where no other work is available and a man desires, as he should desire, to do some work, is it not in fact incumbent on the right hon. Gentleman to provide it?

Most of them do not wish to work, and the hon. Gentleman is misrepresenting the position when he says mail bags are the only thing. It is peculiar to a small minority in prison.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look sympathetically into what appears to be a differentiation between these people and internees, aliens and others? The latter are allowed to earn money, and these people apparently are not.

The noble Lord is not aware that some of them are paid money. The circumstances are bound to be somewhat different, but there is no lack of sympathy with the points that he has raised.

Have they any opportunity of learning a trade?

There is a Question on that point later.

asked the Home Secretary whether any attempt is made to provide suitable work for detainees under Regulation 18B, male and female, who have special qualifications

If my hon. Friend is thinking of persons having scientific and professional qualifications, I regret that it is not practicable to provide work for which they are qualified, but as I explained in my reply on nth June to the hon. Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey), various forms of suitable employment are available for those who are willing to undertake work.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an example of what he considers suitable work?

I answered that previously.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that work is provided in most of our prisons in the making of mattresses for women soldiers and hammocks for sailors, and can he extend the facilities to the friends of the hon. Gentleman opposite?

The work would be available if they were willing to do it.

asked the Home Secretary what facilities and encouragement are given to 18B detainees for educational study and learning trades, with a view to their becoming useful and contented citizens after their release?

I have been anxious that everything possible shall be done to develop educational facilities for persons in detention, but experience has shown that if such schemes are to be successful it is better that the initiative should be with the internees themselves who claim that qualified lecturers and teachers can be found amongst their own number. Classes are held by those with the requisite qualifications, and a special hour has been set aside for classes and study. Books and other equipment are provided. As regards the teaching of trades, the number who could be relied on to take continuous instruction in any particular trade is not such as to justify the installation of expensive machinery or tools or the provision of special instructors, but for the women there are opportunities of instruction in dressmaking and in handicrafts including weaving.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many individuals are now detained under Regulation 18B, at the latest convenient date?

That does not seem to arise out of this Question.

asked the Home Secretary in which regions the scheme for the immobilisation of motor-cars, by the removal of parts, is in operation; whether he will give consideration to the petition, being organised in the Midlands by motorists, suggesting, as an alternative, an undertaking by owners to take the necessary action themselves; and whether he has considered achieving the desired object by calling in all tyres forthwith from laid up motor-cars?

Private motor cars have been immobilised by the surrender of their vital parts to the police in a coastal belt in the Eastern Region and in the whole of the Northern, South Eastern and Midland Regions. In the Eastern and South Eastern Regions the scheme has been in operation since the autumn of 1940 and August, 1941, respectively. I shall, of course, be prepared to consider the petition referred to by my hon. Friend when received, but as at present advised I do not think that any method of immobilisation would be acceptable which leaves the re-commissioning of the car in the control of the owner. The question of the requisitioning of tyres is under active consideration by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, within whose sphere responsibility for such action would rest.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the petition referred to has been signed by a large number of people in Wolverhampton and district, and will he give that careful consideration?

Anything from Wolverhampton will have my careful consideration.

asked the Home Secretary why two letters dated 25th and 31st May, respectively, and addressed to the hon. Member for Cleveland by Mr. A. Leuthardt, a detainee at Camp M, Peel, Isle of Man, were stopped by the camp police?

I have made inquiries and find that the question arising in this case was not whether the detainee should be allowed to write to my hon. and gallant Friend, but whether these two letters should be allowed as extra letters additional to the number which a detainee is normally allowed to write each week. The large number of letters written by some detainees—one man has sent 51 letters to Members of Parliament in the last three weeks—raised the question whether some limit ought not to be imposed, and the Camp Commandant took the view that having regard to the nature of these particular letters they ought not to be allowed as extra letters. I have now given instructions that no limit need be placed on the number of letters sent to Members of Parliament, and I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of the letters in question.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that on 18th November last the Prime Minister, in reply to a Question, gave an assurance to the House that detainees had the right of communicating with Members of Parliament, and that he regarded this as being sufficient to ensure that there was no abuse of the powers of my right hon. Friend under Regulation 18B? Surely communication with Members of Parliament must in all cases be unrestricted if it is to be any safeguard at all?

That point comes in Question 46 on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that letters addressed to Members of Parliament by detainees at Camp M, Peel, Isle of Man, are being stopped by the police in charge of the camp; and, as the free right of communicating with Members of Parliament is a safeguard for the detainees against any possible abuse of the power of detention, will he move for a Select Committee to inquire into the reasons for these letters being stopped?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer already given to-day to Question No. 18 by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. In view of the explanation given by my right hon. Friend and of the instructions now issued, no useful purpose would, in my view, be served by setting up a committee such as is suggested.

Should not some form of inquiry be set up to find out why the police of this camp stop letters, in complete contradiction to the assurances given to this House by the Prime Minister on 18th November last? Surely, we ought to find out why that has happened. It is rather flouting the authority of this House.

My hon. and gallant Friend will have heard from the Home Secretary that he has already made inquiries into the matter, and he has given the reasons. If my hon. and gallant Friend were aware of the contents of some of these letters, and of statements made as to the dishonest method of the British, and so on, he would no doubt feel that the matter had been properly inquired into and properly dealt with.

May I say that anything which can be done to diminish the number of circular letters sent to Members of Parliament will be appreciated?

Would it not be simpler if the hon. and gallant Member for Cleveland (Commander Bower) went to live in the Isle of Man?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the situation of many families, whom local laundries, owing to shortage of labour, are unable to accept as customers and whose soap ration is insufficient for washing clothes; and what steps is he taking to solve the difficulty in the interest of public health?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service regarding laundry services on 10th April, 1941, of which I am sending him a copy. If he would care to send me information about any particular locality where there is marked difficulty I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will undertake that, before any more general practitioners are released for the Services, the Emergency Medical Service will be reduced to a size more comparable with proved needs?

As stated in a Reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 15th April, a percentage reduction in the whole-time medical staffs of hospitals, including those enrolled in the Emergency Medical Service, is already being carried out, in the light of the proved needs of the hospitals. In addition, the period for which hospital appointments may be held by recently qualified doctors liable to military service has been restricted. The reduction of hospital staffs is, therefore, proceeding concurrently with the call for more general practitioners for the Services.

asked the Minister of Health how many county councils in Wales have in operation after-care schemes of a satisfactory standard for tuberculosis sufferers; and are sufficiently energetic steps being taken to provide adequate after-care?

I am obtaining the latest information on this matter and will communicate it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Is not the Minister aware that a good deal of concern has been shown at the inadequacy of the after-care scheme in fighting this scourge?

Yes, Sir, and I share it.

asked the Minister of Health, how many cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified last year; and how many were considered to be of bovine origin?

The number of cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis, notified in England and Wales during the year 1941 was 13,720. The information referred to m the second part of the Question is not available.

In view of the serious implications of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, is he co-operating with the Ministry of Food in order to ensure that all milk under the National Milk Scheme undergoes some form of purification before it is sold to the public?

There is another Question about that.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the arrangement under which the National Milk Scheme guarantees a high standard of quality in milk which has passed through a depôt, but does not protect people served by a producer-retailer not in possession of a pasteurisation plant, or what further steps he proposes to take?

I welcome the increase in pasteurisation to which the arrangements in paragraph 6 (f) of the White Paper on Milk Policy should contribute. Its further extension must be limited by considerations of what is practicable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any producer-retailer can sell milk from a tuberculous cow to an unsuspecting mother, and does he not think the public should be afforded some protection?

As I say, we do all we can, subject to the limitations of what is practicable. I have every sympathy with the hon. Lady's object.

Would it not be better, while being very strict about cleanliness, not to bother about the foolishness of pasteurisation?

Will steps be taken to increase the amount of milk that is pasteurised?

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give any further information respecting progress in relating and co-ordinating the services of medical and nursing staffs in military and civil hospitals?

With regard to nursing, to which my hon. Friend's previous questions referred, I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has agreed in principle to the temporary loan to understaffed civilian hospitals of Army nurses who can be spared. The details are under discussion. With regard to medical staffs, I have a standing arrangement with my right hon. Friend under which Army doctors would give all possible assistance to a civil hospital if required in an emergency. I may add that Medical Personnel Priority Committees in each Region have constantly under review the co-ordination of military and civil hospital services.

While appreciating very much the Reply which the right hon. Gentleman has given, may I ask him whether any kind of report is likely to be made of a general nature showing what the progress has been, in view of the great shortage of civil staff in certain directions?

I am not certain about there being a report. I shall have to look into that point. The hon. Member will see that the medical personnel do have this matter constantly under discussion with all the Departments concerned, because this affects more than one Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases where British subjects formerly living abroad in what is now enemy-occupied territory have succeeded in bringing with them a certain proportion of the income which they earned in that country, this money is treated as earned income and is subject to Income Tax in this country?

The general rule is that a person resident in the United Kingdom is liable to Income Tax in respect of income arising abroad. The application of the rule depends on the facts of the particular case, and perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have the facts of any case he may have in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of Northern Ireland, farmers whose Poor Law valuation does not exceed £100, assessed under Schedule B, the assessment for Income Tax under the present Budget, will be as hitherto on the Poor Law valuation, rent, or annuity payable to the Ministry of Finance, whichever is least?

The present Finance Bill does not alter the provision under which the annual value of lands in Northern Ireland for the purposes of Schedule B is taken to be the Poor Law valuation or the purchase annuity payable under the Land Purchase Acts, whichever is the smaller. Under Sub-section (2) of Clause 28 of the Finance Bill, where a farmer is chargeable under Schedule B, the charge will be on three times the annual value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the recent article headed "Red Tape: Soldiers paid for Crime," a copy of which has been sent to him; and what steps he takes to ensure that if a civil servant non-commissioned officer is reduced in rank, even for disciplinary reasons, he is not compensated by an increase in his civil pay by the amount he has lost from his military pay?

Yes, Sir, but the suggestion conveyed by the article that civil servants serving with the Forces receive unduly favourable treatment in this matter is not one which I can accept. When a civil servant thus serving is reduced in military, etc., rank for disciplinary reasons, Departments are instructed to consider what action would have been taken had a similar offence been committed by him whilst in Departmental employment. If the offence would have involved dismissal from the Civil Service, balance of civil pay is to be stopped; if the offence is rather less serious, balance of civil pay may be continued at the same rate as before without compensating for the reduction in military, etc., pay, or it may be otherwise adjusted at the Department's discretion. It is only when a civil servant is reduced in rank in circumstances which do not call for any downward adjustment of his total emoluments that the reduction in military, etc., pay is made good by an increase in balance of civil pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the resolutions passed at public meetings in Bowhill and Kelty on 31st May, and sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, demanding old age pensions of 30s. per week at the age of 60 years and the abolition of the means test for old age pensioners; and what steps he is prepared to take to meet this demand.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement made in the House yesterday.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer in any inquiry which he proposes to make into this question, or any proposal which he is considering, receive a statement from the representatives of the Old Age Pensioners' Association?

I do not think I can take the matter further than I did in the statement which I made yesterday.

But the Chancellor of the Exchequer will agree that if any matters concerning city companies were being considered, representations would be received from them, and surely we should get the same consideration for the representatives of the old folk as is given to the gang of robbers in the city?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, (1) whether he is aware that foxes are being preserved for the benefit of the Meynell Hunt on two farms situated at Ashbourne and Matlock; and whether, in view of the destruction of lambs and poultry by foxes, he will see that this practice is ended;

County war agricultural executive committees, with the co-operation of various hunts, are taking all suitable steps to ensure the destruction of foxes in the interests of food production. My information is that no foxes are being preserved for the benefit of particular hunts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any county war agricultural committees have evolved plans for the voluntary formation of groups of small farms in their areas, so facilitating joint arrangements for purchasing expansion machinery and pooling labour resources and plant?

County war agricultural executive committees have been instructed to take steps to organise co-operation between farmers in order to make the most efficient use of available machinery, and propaganda is being carried on by the committees and through other agencies to further this "Help-your-neighbour" campaign.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of supplies of lime; and whether he can give any encouragement to farmers, who have been informed by their suppliers that deliveries cannot be made until next winter or spring, that in fact supplies will be available before autumn ploughing commences?

I am aware that there are local shortages of certain kinds of lime, but every endeavour is being made by my Department to increase the quantity available. It should be possible for the great bulk of the orders now with suppliers to be delivered before the autumn ploughing commences, but farmers will have to be prepared to accept, where necessary, delivery of a kind of lime alternative to that ordered.

Is the Minister aware that in the West Riding of Yorkshire farmers are already being told that they cannot obtain supplies of lime before December?

Yes, Sir, but in the majority of cases that I have investigated that is because the farmer has ordered a particular type of lime. I cannot guarantee to supply particular types of lime in particular areas. Farmers must take whatever lime is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that, under present conditions, every veterinary surgeon is giving full-time service; and whether, in view of the substantial loss to the country which still results from mortality of dairy stock and other animals from disease, he will arrange for county war agricultural committees to provide, at State expense if necessary, veterinary inspection and treatment, even where this is not sought by individual farmers?

In so far as all veterinary surgeons may not be fully employed, the voluntary scheme for the control of diseases of dairy cattle introduced on 1st June, and the realisation on the part of farmers of the advantage of consulting their veterinary surgeons at an early stage of any trouble, should result in the fuller utilisation of the services of the veterinary profession. The suggestion made in the latter part of the Question is impracticable, if only because the successful control of diseases of animals depends very largely upon willing co-operation between farmer and practitioner.

asked what steps the Minister of Agriculture is taking to avoid unnecessary employment of children of 12 and 13 years of age in agriculture, and in particular to limit the maximum hours of work to four a day?

Instructions have been given to county war agricultural executive committees not to encourage or to facilitate the employment of children under the age of 14 until every other source of supplementary labour (including local women, the older children at public and secondary schools and soldier labour if available) has been fully used. Committees have been asked to make every effort to see that children under 14 do not work for more than four hours a day. Arrangements are to be made wherever possible for the work to be spread over such number of children as will enable individual children to be employed for half days only (up to four hours) at a time, and in term-time to attend school for either the morning or afternoon session.

How is provision made to protect the children from being put on heavy work, and to see that the work is at any rate of a character suitable for child labour?

I think we can leave that to my war agricultural committees and the local education authorities.

Arising out of the reply of the Minister, which in many ways will relieve anxiety, may I ask whether he has made Regulations to provide against the possible overstrain of children who are physically unfit and whether he is aware of the anxiety of head teachers on that point?

Yes, Sir, that has been taken care of.

Is the Minister aware that many of us, when we were children, went to haymaking and other farm work for pleasure?

In view of the Minister's assurance, for which I am grateful to him, I desire to give notice that I shall not deem it necessary to proceed with the Prayer which is down for next week. I think I am also speaking for my hon. Friends whose names are associated with mine.

Even although the right hon. Gentleman is communicating with the county war agricultural committees, is he asking the President of the Board of Education to communicate with the rural education authorities to prevent them from allowing children to leave school?

Yes, Sir, the whole arrangement is being conducted with the closest co-operation between the Board of Education and my Department.

That is not the point. Is the Minister going to communicate with the rural education authorities to see that they do not release the children from school?

That has already been done.

Is the Minister satisfied that he has the machinery in various districts to enforce these regulations?

Yes, Sir.

What form of collaboration is there between education authorities and war agricultural committees to see that farmers do not violate the regulations laid down? Is the Minister aware that excessive enthusiasm on the part of farmers may cause the children to work excessively long hours?

That is being provided for in the instructions which are being sent out to the committees. In addition, penalties for a breach have been strengthened.

Will the householders billeting children have the right to send those children to work on the farms?

An attempt will be made to obtain the parents' consent. It is only if we cannot communicate with the parents that those in charge of the children will be entitled to give the consent.

Is it not a fact that children love working on farms?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent there are signs that increased penalties have caused any reduction in black marketing?

As the increased penalties have been in force for less than three months, it is too early at present to judge whether these penalties are acting as a substantial deterrent to black market operators.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the charge made against John Leonard Cook, of Penistone Road, Sheffield; and the various kinds of foods concerned?

The person referred to was charged at Sheffield on 9th June by the police with receiving certain goods and, at the instance of this Department, with acquiring flour in excess of the amount required by his household for one month's consumption, and was committed for trial at the quarter sessions on both charges. A list of the goods removed from the premises by the police is being sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many retail shops have been closed in Rochester and Chatham, owing to war difficulties, since the start of the war?

I regret that the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend has asked is not available.

How many new departments have been opened up by chain stores in the same areas and the same districts?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Isaac Isenberg, hosier, of Cutler Street, Houndsditch, who, on 9th March, was fined £7,521 for selling goods in excess of his quota, has paid the fine within the time given him to pay, which expired on Friday, 12th June?

As this man had only paid £500 by 12th June, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in respect of the non-payment of the balance of the fine.

Will going to prison relieve this man of his financial obligation?

I should like to have notice of that question, but I think that is the case.

Can the Leader of the House make a statement as to whether that is the law?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large quantities of cotton piece goods, originally intended for the Dutch East Indies, are held up in Manchester warehouses; that permission to transfer these goods to the West African market is being withheld by the Cotton Board; that the owners of these goods are, in consequence, forced to incur substantial additional charges for interest, storage and insurance; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this delay involving wasteful expenditure with consequent unnecessarily high charges to approved, friendly and willing purchasers, is brought to an end?

Yes, Sir. Negotiations are proceeding which, I hope, will satisfactorily resolve these difficulties.

As these negotiations have now been going on for something like two months, is it not quite clear that it is in everybody's interest that this unnecessary delay should cease, and could not the goods be disposed of?

I am hoping that the negotiations will be satisfactorily concluded very soon.