asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, to alleviate the consequence of the wholesale slaughter of poultry which is likely to take place after 1st October when the new rationing scheme begins to operate, he proposes to encourage the public to maintain in their place a large number of rabbits which, unlike hens, can be supported mainly on waste vegetable produce and weeds?

Official encouragement is already being given to the breeding and rearing of rabbits, in captivity, for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many thousands of domestic poultry keepers have, with his encouragement, bought pullets at 21s. each, or more, and will now be unable to maintain them under the new poultry rationing scheme; and whether he will reconsider this question before enforcing the new arrangements?

I regret the embarrassment which may be experienced by some poultry keepers who have purchased more pullets than they will be able to maintain under the new scheme, but the deterioration in the feeding stuffs position makes it necessary that domestic poultry keepers, in common with other owners of livestock, should contribute towards the economies that have to be effected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a firm in Old Bond Street is advertising whisky fox sale at 37s. 6d. per bottle; and whether he will take and use the powers necessary to control the retail price of whisky?

I am aware of the advertisement to which my gallant Friend refers and that the advertiser has been offering whisky for sale at prices in excess of those scheduled by the manufacturers. As from 1st July, 1942, the grant or renewal of wholesale dealer's licences will be limited, save in exceptional circumstances, to firms established in the trade before the war. My Noble Friend does not, at present, consider it necessary to give statutory effect to the fixed or maximum prices which are now imposed as a condition of sale in the case of proprietary brands.

asked the Minister of Production whether he will have printed as a White Paper the statement that he broadcast when he was in the United States of America?

The speech has already received considerable publicity in the Press and I do not think that reproduction as a White Paper would be warranted.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the London Region Circular, No. 627 (Salvage of Timber), which removes the control of timber dumps from the local authority and transfers it to timber controls; whether he is aware that, as a result of such transfer, firms are now sent long distances for timber which is available from the dumps on the spot, thus wasting time and petrol; and whether he will cancel this circular?

I am informed that generally the arrangements referred to in the circular are working satisfactorily and I am not aware of any reason to modify them. One case of the kind mentioned in the second part of the Question has been reported: I understand that this was due to certain local difficulties which are being discussed with the local authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to Table 7 in the Report of the Retail Trade Committee which shows that whereas some categories of retail shops, such as those dealing in clothing, footwear, furniture and electrical goods, have been reduced in number by percentages up to 21 per cent., others, such as chemists', have increased during the war period; and whether, in view of the fact that the reduction is mainly due to quotas imposed for war purposes, he will consider some system of compensation for retailers who suffer specially on this account?

I have seen this Table and, as I have already stated, I am now studying the whole question in the light of the Committee's recommendations. The Committee's Report makes it clear that there are other reasons for the decline in the number of shops apart from the reduction in supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that no decision will be arrived at regarding the recommendations and the plan proposed in the Third Report of the Retail Trade Committee until the views of the people affected are known?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question for Oral Answer on the same subject to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that eels and fresh-water fish form an addition to war-time diet, that fish-hooks are almost unobtainable and that one hundredweight of wire will make more than 1,000,000 hooks, he will release some wire for the manufacture of fish-hooks?

Production is being concentrated on hooks for commercial fishing. I regret that the diversion of labour and materials from this purpose to the manufacture of hooks for angling cannot, in present circumstances, be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the evidence given before a recent session of the Appeal Tribunal of the county of London,. that a Captain-Peel, an officer on active service, visited a shop in the West End of London in company with a Board of Trade official and acted as an agent provocateur in an endeavour to obtain a coat or coats without clothing coupons, tempting the firm's employee to break regulations; whether this was done with his approval; whether this officer received remuneration from the Board of Trade; and whether it is proposed to allow Army officers to act in such a capacity in the future?

The officer referred to originally called at the shop in question to make inquiries about the purchase of a coat for a friend. He was offered a coat coupon free. Knowing this to be illegal he communicated with the police and later visited the shop again with one of the Board of Trade's enforcement officers. Evidence was then obtained on which the firm and its secretary were convicted. The officer acted on his own initiative from a sense of public duty and received no remuneration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the total quantity of beer produced and imported and of spirits produced during the calendar year 1941;(2) the number of gallons of imported wines and of British wines, respectively, cleared for consumption in the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1541;(3) the quantity of home-made spirits and imported spirits, respectively, in bonded warehouses on 31st December, 1942?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (i) the quantities of malt, unmalted grain, rice and maize, sugar and sugar substitutes used in brewing and distilling in the United Kingdom during the brewing and distilling year ended 30th September, 1941;(2) the amount of the duty levied on spirits, home and imported beer, imported wines and British wines, respectively, and hops, during the year ended 31st December, 1941; and the amount received for liquor licence duties, monopoly value and club duty during the financial year ended 31st March, 1942?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (i) the number of proof gallons of spirits retained for consumption in Great Britain during the year ended 31st December, 1941;(2) the number of bulk and standard barrels, home and imported, retained for consumption in Great Britain during the year ended 31st December, 1941;

I am advised that it would be contrary to the public interest that the figures for which my hon. Friends ask should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether suitable steps have now been taken to ensure that soldiers serving, both overseas and at home, are able to obtain from their medical units, canteens or other accessible places, simple medicines which they have been accustomed to use in civil life?

Soldiers serving both overseas and at home can get from their unit medical officers all medicines which are necessary for the preservation of their health. Certain simple medicines can also be purchased at Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes canteens.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant a temporary discharge to Private Holden because of his wife's serious illness and four young children at home?

Private Holden is at present, I understand, on seven days' leave and in view of his wife's confinement will be granted a further ten days' leave if he applies for it. In addition to this he can, if circumstances warrant, apply to his commanding officer for a further extension of leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that in towns and cities which have a technical school and a battalion of the Army Cadet Force there shall be established a company or unit of the Army Cadet Force which will be prepared for future entrance to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps or to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers?

A scheme whereby Army cadets may receive technical framing at evening classes under the local education authority is at present being worked out. It would not, however, be desirable to divide up the Cadet Force into units destined for particular branches of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that tank battles in the desert are in many ways similar to battles at sea, he will arrange for a naval officer to lecture to officers of the Tank Corps?

The analogy between tank battles in the desert and battles at sea cannot be pressed too far. Nevertheless there is already close liaison with the Navy on certain tank problems and I am looking into the possibility of developing that liaison in other directions.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the promised supplies of pipe tobacco to Navy, Army and Air Force canteens at pre-Budget prices are inadequate to provide service pipe-smokers with one ounce per head per week, while there are plentiful supplies on the open market?

The total quantity of pipe tobacco and cigarettes available for the Services at pre-Budget prices is limited. The supplies of pipe tobacco have been temporarily out of proportion, possibly because of increased demand since the present arrangements were introduced. Steps have been taken to remedy this.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many hours of voluntary duty were performed by industrial and non-industrial civil servants, of all grades, on fire-watching, Home Guard and air-raid precautions duties during the four weeks ended 31st January last?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the posting of officers in the Royal Air Force as between the various home commands has practically ceased; and whether this is in accordance with a deliberate policy laid down by the Air Council?

It is the policy of the Air Council to post officers to the command for which they are best suited by their training and other qualifications and, as a general rule, to leave them in that command to complete a normal tour of duty. This applies especially to operational air crews. Any other policy would be wasteful and less efficient in utilisation of trained man-power.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any systematic visitation of the houses of domestic fuel consumers is to be carried out by officials of his Department for the purpose of giving advice and checking consumption and, if so, on what lines?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the enforcement of the Waste of Fuel Order, 1942. I intend shortly to make a further Order under which specific directions may be issued for the prevention of particular forms of waste in domestic premises and elsewhere. It is not my intention at present to arrange for systematic visitation of private households, because I feel sure that the great majority of householders are thoroughly patriotic and are anxious to co-operate to the best of their ability in saving fuel. One of the principal objects of our publicity campaign therefore is to help householders with advice and information. I need hardly say, however, that cases of flagrant waste, or deliberate contravention of directions, by domestic consumers will not be tolerated.