asked the Secretary of State for War what Army punishments are laid down in King's Regulations; and whether officers are permitted to introduce any other system of punishment?

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to punishments which may be awarded summarily by commanding officers. These include for private soldiers, admonition, detention, forfeiture of pay, confinement to barracks, extra guard duties and field punishment, and for noncommissioned officers reprimand and deprivation of acting or lance rank. Officers are forbidden to introduce or adopt any system of punishment that is in any respect at variance with King's Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War why some 30 lance-sergeants who, following courses in London served satisfactorily as instructors, radio, at various places throughout the country, were then invited to take a staff-sergeants course at a camp, name of which has been supplied, where, after seven months with three stripes, they were reduced to the rank of private; and will he take steps to remedy this injustice?

The terms of these men's employment as military assistant instructors at civilian training establishments provide that they shall hold the local paid rank of corporal and the local unpaid rank of lance-sergeant, but that it shall be clearly understood that they relinquish such local rank when this employment ceases. They are required to state in writing that they understand these conditions.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is satisfied that the terms of service of special service troops compare favourably with other Army units; what extra pay and allowances are received by them in view of the dangerous duties they carry out; and whether he can make any statement on the matter;(2) what extra leave or privileges are granted to special service troops after the completion of an operation; and whether the present system is in every way satisfactory?

The terms of service of special service troops are identical with those of other units of the Army. No extra pay or allowances are received by them in view of the duties they carry out. The only allowance these troops receive is that made to cover their living expenses when accommodation and victualling are not provided for them by the Service. As regards the second Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave him on 29th April last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the necessity of allowing extra clothing coupons to men engaged in tube, steel and tin-plate works, engaged on engineering and maintenance work.

Maintenance fitters, maintenance engineers, millwrights and their mates were awarded 25 extra coupons in the tinplate and sheet steel industries and 15 extra coupons in the metal tube industry for the rationing period from the 1st June, 1941, to 31st May, 1942. The coupons were distributed during May. I shall review these awards for the present rationing period in the light of the supply situation and of any representations made to me through the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now consider introducing legislation authorising increased payments, under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, for all injured workmen?

The Workmen's Compensation (Supplementary Allowances) Act, 1940, provided substantial increases in benefits, particularly to the man with a family. As my hon. Friend is, no doubt, aware, a comprehensive survey of all the existing schemes of social insurance, including workmen's compensation, is being undertaken on behalf of the Government, and as was pointed out in reply to a Question on 29th April there would be obvious difficulties in any further revision of benefits pending the report of that survey.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when bombed goods stored by local authorities are destroyed by fire, the responsibility for insurance rests on the authority or on the owner?

The responsibility for insurance in such cases rests on the owner, and local authorities were requested in January last to inform owners of furniture stored by them of an arrangement made by the fire offices committee of the insurance companies to cover this class of case.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what instructions have been issued regarding the billeting of Royal Air Force personnel upon the civil population?

The instructions issued provide for selection of billets for R.A.F. personnel by the police in consultation with the local authorities so that billeting is carried out fairly and with proper regard to the convenience of the civilian population. In the particular case of which my hon. and gallant Friend has informed me, the normal procedure was not followed owing to the short notice at which a unit was moved and to a misunderstanding about the numbers of personnel involved. For these reasons, co-operation with the civil authorities was difficult but with their assistance matters are being put right. I greatly regret any inconvenience caused to householders in the exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether lorries immobilised at fixed balloon barrage sites where the winches are driven by separate prime movers can be released for other work?

Yes, Sir. These vehicles are being put to other uses.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the rate of disability pension for a captain in the Army, payable under the Royal Warrant of 29th June, 1940, and amending Orders, is lower than that payable to a lieutenant in the Navy or a flight-lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, although these ranks are equal; and whether he will remove this anomaly?

I am glad to be able to inform the hon. and gallant member that it has now been agreed to increase the maximum rate of disability retired pay under Article 18 of the Royal Warrant of 29th June, 1940, for a captain in the Army to £220 a year, thus bringing the rate into agreement with that applicable to the comparable ranks in the other Services.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the administrative county of Durham, during the first week in March, 1942, 604 aged persons, 65 years of age and over, were subject to Poor Law relief; and will he take steps to arrange to bring them under the Old Age Pensions scheme rather than have them chargeable to the local rates?

I understand that the figure given in the first part of the Question is correct, except that it applies to outdoor relief only. The scope of the Old Age Pensions scheme is one of the matters which are being considered by the interdepartmental committee on Social Insurance and Allied Services, and pending their report I am not prepared to make any statement as to the second part of the Question. As my hon. Friend will be aware, an inquiry into the present position of old age pensioners was promised by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate which followed the Motion by my hon. Friend the Member for Abertillery (Mr. Daggar) on the 17th instant.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from cancer and from diabetes in the years 1940 and 1941, according to the Registrar General's statistics?

The numbers of deaths in England and Wales from cancer and from diabetes in the years 1940 and 1941 are as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether in the consideration of national man-power and the calling up of men of military age for compulsory war service, arrangements have been made for leaving at least one all-round maintenance man for work in schools, especially secondary schools for girls, run on denominational lines and with female staff; whether such necessary work as plumbing, heating, maintenance of electric plant, water supply, window cleaning, etc., is recognised as included in maintenance work; and whether such secondary schools in the country are being treated, as far as man-power is concerned, on the same lines and equal footing with public schools, such as Roedean, Eton or Harrow?

The deferment of the maintenance staff of schools is a matter for the district man power boards, who have been instructed to consult with His Majesty's Inspectors before rejecting applications for the retention by the schools of such essential staff. I can assure the hon. Member that no distinction in these matters is made between different types of school.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Trans port whether the right previously granted to local authorities, of being notified in advance of any proposed alterations in fares, timetables, etc., can now be restored, thus removing a cause of irritation to the public?

Early in the war the Government decided that the licensing procedure under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, was not suitable to war-time needs and conditions and the frequent and rapid adjustments which these needs and conditions entail. Under Defence Regulations the licensing system was, therefore temporarily suspended by the Regional Transport Commissioners, and it was laid down that permits should be issued instead. It would not be practicable or desirable to restore the peace-time procedure in present circumstances, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Commissioners give the most careful consideration to any representations made by local authorities about the services in their respective regions.