asked the Minister of Agriculture why the New Forest Pastoral Development Scheme has been limited to an experiment with 500 acres only; and whether, in view of the promise of this scheme and the original suggestion that a greater acreage would be involved, he can hold out any hope of large-scale developments at an early date?

The scheme was not limited to the specified area, but the initial expenditure of £5,000 was approved in order to test the possibilities of the pastoral development of typical blocks of land and the cost of such development. I see no advantage in enlarging the scope of the experiment until further experience has been gained, more especially as the available machinery and labour are required more urgently in other places at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he was consulted before it was decided by the War Office to requisition 36 square miles of agricultural land in East Anglia?

Yes, Sir, and the loss to food production was stressed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War satisfied me however that it was absolutely essential in the interests of Army training that an area should be provided and no other area of land of lower agricultural value in the vicinity was suitable for War Office requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the Government taking over some villages and 15 farms covering 6,000 acres in East Anglia; whether he is aware that it will mean the loss to the nation of crops and 60,000 gallons of milk and thousands of eggs a year; how that loss of milk will be made up; and, as the Government are making a plea to farmers to cultivate another 6,000,000 acres which will save 500,000 tons of shipping, will he reconsider this proposed requisition?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) on 23rd June, of which I am sending him a copy. I regret that I cannot reconsider my decision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make a statement concerning his post-war plan for the State control of all hospitals and medical services?

No, Sir. I have at present nothing to add on the question of post-war hospital policy to the statement that I made to the House of 9th October last and what I said on 21st April in the discussion on the Motion by my hon. Friend the Member for Greenock (Mr. McNeil).

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulties of Bournemouth and district in giving accommodation to tubercular patients; what representations the council have made to him on the subject; and, in view of the anxiety felt, whether he will make a grant towards the maintenance of the Linford Sanatorium buildings or the temporary bed accommodation elsewhere?

Yes, Sir. The representations of the Bournemouth Borough Council as to the need for more beds for tuberculous cases have received active attention. My regional officers have given all assistance towards securing appropriate premises, and I have informed the Council that it has now been arranged to release from the Emergency Hospital Scheme a property which the Council consider would meet their need. I have no power to make a grant from the Exchequer such as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been reconstructed by the local authority in the Harrow division of Middlesex and how many are still in hand?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now able to give figures for the average weekly costs of the camp schools managed by the National Camps Corporation?

The average weekly costs per head, based on the average number of children and teachers in residence, for the year ended 31st March, 1942, are as follow:

Camp Working:
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Food	7	8½
Camp Staff	5	10½
Fuel and Lighting	2	5½
Rates, Taxes and Insurance	1	4½
Maintenance of Buildings and Equipment	2	3½
Laundry	1	0½
Sundries		9
			21	6
Loan Charges			2	5
Central Administration				5½
			24	4½

The highest average weekly cost per head during that year was 33s. 1d., at a camp at which there were 156 residents, and the lowest was 22s., at a camp of 265 residents.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in connection with the national "holidays at home" scheme, he will make arrangements whereby workers who spend their rest days in local parks, etc., can enjoy the use of mobile canteens for the provision of food and drink, particularly minerals and warm beverages such as tea and milk, or will he make other arrangements for such supplies to home holiday makers during the remainder of the holiday season?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackburn (Captain Elliston) on 16th June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, out of 10 tons of carrots dispatched to Sittingbourne by the National Vegetable Marketing Company in December last for storage, nine tons were found, about April, as being unfit for human food; whether there have been similar wastages elsewhere; and what steps are being taken to acquire adequate storage accommodation and supervision to ensure the least possible loss of valuable food?

Inquiries are being made on the subject from the National Vegetable Marketing Company and particulars will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. In answer to the last part of the Question, in so far as storage may be required next winter every effort will be made to secure satisfactory accommodation to fulfill the conditions my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Home Secretary why he is forcing local ratepayers to pay part of the cost of subsistence allowances in the case of citizens compulsorily detailed for fire guard duty at business premises where the occupiers cannot provide their own fire guards, although, where the occupiers can and do provide their own fire guards, the subsistence allowances rank for 100 per cent. Exchequer grant?

My right hon. Friend proposes shortly to amend the Business Premises Order to deal with this question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the issue of his new invasion instructions to civilians, he will take steps to cause the destruction of all previous contradictory leaflets and of advertisements which the public were advised to cut out and keep?

Policy in this matter necessarily develops as the situation changes. The recent statement by the Government should have served to make the present position clear. The question of the need for further publicity will continue to be kept under review, and such steps taken as may from time to time be considered necessary?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to recent accidents to children who have fallen into static water tanks of the National Fire Service; and whether he will consider the provision of adequate protection where such tanks are easily accessible to children?

Yes, Sir. All reasonable precautions are taken to lessen the risk of accident, particularly where static water installations are in places to which children have ready access. Basins in the basements of bombed buildings are walled in where necessary; open basins below ground are safeguarded by chestnut or other fencing; and tanks above ground are protected by wire mesh, if they are in parks where children may play, or on or near children's playgrounds. Lifebuoys are provided at the larger basins, or where there is any special risk. Arrangements have also been made, in collaboration with the Board of Education, for publicity to be given in schools to the dangers presented by water installations. Shortages of materials and man power make it impracticable to provide for all contingencies, or to maintain personnel as guards over the basins. But recent instructions have stressed the importance of seeing that the safeguards which have been provided are inspected as often as is practicable, and maintained in effective condition. The effect of these measures will be much increased if parents, and all persons entrusted with the care of young children, will take every opportunity to impress upon their charges the importance of keeping away from the danger.

asked the Home Secretary whether the chairmen of all the invasion committees which are to be set up have now been appointed; and when it may be expected that the total number of these committees will begin to operate and instruct citizens in their areas what are their duties in the event of invasion?

As was explained in the statement entitled "Plans for Civilian Action in Invasion" which was placed in the hands of Members on 9th June, there are necessarily wide variations in the forms taken by these invasion arrangements throughout the country. Where special committees are being set up chairmen have already been selected in all but a few places. The scheme is progressing rapidly and most committees are in operation. Committees may still be formed in a number of places where the Regional Commissioner and the military authorities consider that they are needed.

asked the Home Secretary (1) in how many cases proceedings have been brought against employees for breaches of provisions relating to literature, notices or assemblies contained in any by-laws in force at any time prior to the 31st December 1941 and made in pursuance of Regulation 14 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, in respect of protected places; in how many such cases there have been convictions; what terms of imprisonment have been imposed and what fines; and the like information in relation to proceedings against employers;(2) in how many cases, up to the latest date for which information is available, proceedings have been brought against employees for breaches of provisions relating to literature, notices or assemblies contained in any by-laws or directions in force at any time after 31st December, 1941, and made in pursuance of Regulations 12 and 14 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, in respect of protected places; in how many such cases there have been convictions; what terms of imprisonment and what fines; and the like information in relation to proceedings against employers?

These by-laws are not made by the Home Office and the information asked for is not available to my Department, but I am making some inquiries about the matter and will communicate with the hon. and learned Member in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any observation is being kept on the working of the Workmen's Compensation Act as it affects Colonial workers of different crafts or grades now in Britain; whether his Department has any record or statistics appertaining to such cases, with notes of the injury or disease, the nature of the accident, the success or failure of claims for workmen's compensation and the duration of incapacity; whether such information in individual cases is forwarded to the Colony from which the worker came; and whether the Colonial Office Welfare Department regards such cases as part of its supervisory work?

The Ministry of Labour and National Service, which is the Department directly concerned with the employment of Colonial workers now in Britain, keep careful watch on all aspects of the working of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and it is unnecessary for this Department to set up special machinery for this purpose. Very elaborate machinery would be necessary to keep records and statistics of all cases where Colonial persons are employed in industry, and if set up it would be unlikely to be really effective. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that many Colonial persons who are in employment in this country have been resident here for some years and enter employment without any reference to the Colonial Office, and they might rightly resent any interference from this office. In the case of Colonial workers brought to this country specially for war work, the employing Departments keep full records which are available to the Colonial Office when required. For the Colonial Office itself to maintain separate records of these persons would therefore entail an unnecessary duplication of work. Information about individual cases is only forwarded to the Colonies when special necessity arises such as in the case of death or serious injury.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that many Colonial workers, now employed in this country on national work, find themselves in difficulties when injured at work from lack of knowledge of Workmen's Compensation legislation; whether steps are taken to encourage such men to join appropriate trade unions as soon as possible; whether, in the case of those without trade union membership, the Welfare Department of the Colonial Office helps with legal and other advice; whether any officer with up-to-date knowledge of Workmen's Compensation is attached to the Welfare Department; and, if not, will such an appointment be considered?

I am aware that there are occasionally cases where Colonial workers find themselves in difficulties when injured at work from lack of knowledge of Workmen's Compensation legislation, but I have no evidence that these cases are numerous. Colonial workers specially brought over to this country for war work, such as the Jamaican technicians on Merseyside, are encouraged to join appropriate trade unions if they wish to do so. The Welfare Department of the Colonial Office co-operates with the welfare officers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service in affording assistance and advice to Colonial workers, and would put them in touch with legal advice if necessity arises. In these matters the Colonial Office must necessarily rely on the advice of the officers of the Ministry of Labour with whom it is in constant contact, and I do not consider that it is necessary to make a special appointment on the Colonial Office staff for these purposes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that in the draft Palestine Irrigation (Surface Water) Ordinance, 1942, it is proposed to empower the Water Commissioners and other officials of the Government of Palestine to determine water right, fix compensation where such rights are terminated, limit the quantities of water to be used by landholders, compel water users to make capital expenditure on water works, drainage channels, &c., expropriate land and water rights, and settle disputes between two or more holders of water titles; that the only recourse for persons aggrieved is by appeal to the High Commissioner or some other Government official; and will he cause the Ordinance to be so amended that any person aggrieved shall have the right of appeal to a court of law;(2) why no provision has been made in the draft Palestine Irrigation (Surface Water) Ordinance, 1942, to deal with existing water companies and co-operatives and with the formation of new undertakings of a similar character; to secure the use of water for industrial purposes; and whether he will consider so amending the draft Ordinance as to remedy these defects and safeguard the right of industrial undertakings to the use of water for their works?

I am aware of the provisions in the draft Palestine Irrigation (Surface Water) Ordinance, 1942, to which my hon. Friend refers. I understand that the Jewish Agency have submitted a memorandum to the chief secretary to the Palestine Government on the subject of this Ordinance, which contains representations similar to those put forward by my hon. Friend. These are doubtless engaging the attention of the authorities in Jerusalem. My Noble Friend will ask the High Commissioner for his views on the proposed amendments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in the draft Palestine Irrigation (Underground Water) Ordinance, 1942, the Water Commissioner is empowered to grant licences to dig new wells only where he is satisfied that a new well will not cause any appreciable diminution of the discharge from any existing well within the area; and whether he will consider amending the Draft Ordinance so as to permit the digging of a new well where it would not raise more water than is proportionate to the units of land held in the area by the owner or occupier of the new well and the amount of water raised by the existing well does not, as a consequence, fall below the amount proportionate to the units of land in the area held by the owner or occupier of the existing well?

A proposal for the amendment of the draft Palestine Irrigation (Underground Water) Ordinance, 1942, on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend has already been submitted by the Jewish Agency for Palestine to the chief secretary to the Palestine Government, and is no doubt receiving careful consideration by the authorities in Jerusalem. My Noble Friend will ask the High Commissioner for his views on the proposal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at the recent Caribbean Conference, held in Jamaica, to discuss questions of the supply of essential foodstuffs and other commodities to the British West Indies and other territories in the Caribbean usually imported from abroad, together with problems of shipping, the Government omitted to appoint a single native agriculturist, business man or professional man; and whether he will remedy similar discriminations in future?

The Conference to which my hon. Friend refers was a conference of Government supply officers representing the various Colonies concerned. No question of discrimination on the lines which my hon. Friend suggests therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that if a member of His Majesty's forces is passed fit for active service and is subsequently discharged on medical grounds this does not of itself entitle him to a pension under the Royal Warrant; and whether, in view of the increase in the number of such cases and the fact that many cannot continue in their occupation prior to enlistment, he will have the matter reviewed?

A disability pension can be awarded to an ex-member of His Majesty's Forces only if the disability is certified by my medical advisers to be either directly attributable to service or materially aggravated thereby. I reviewed this matter last year and, as I informed the House, I came to the conclusion that, if a man was definitely classed as fit on recruitment or mobilisation and effective service caused a degree of aggravation in a previously existing condition, the fact of discharge resulting from that condition would justify me in regarding the aggravation as material and thus bringing the case within the scope of the Royal Warrant. There are some cases in which it is not possible to certify that service has caused any worsening, but I know of no evidence that their number is increasing, and I am not prepared to abandon the principle that war disablement pension can only be given for a disability which is connected with war service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many unpaid officials there are on the shipping side of his Department who were, before the war, employed in, or in connection with, the shipping industry, or who were shipowners and are now engaged on administrative or full-time advisory work; and how many paid officials, with salaries of £750 a year and upwards, are so engaged who were so employed, before the war and not so employed, respectively?

Following are the figures:—

Staff engaged in Shipping Divisions and Offices in the United Kingdom.
(1) The number of unpaid officials who were, before the war, employed in or in connection with the shipping industry or who were shipowners and are now engaged on administrative or full-time advisory work	102
(2) The number of paid officials, with salaries of £750 a year or more, who are so engaged and who were so employed before the war	129
(3) The number of paid officials with salaries of £750 a year or more who are so engaged and who were not so employed before the war	45