asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will publish a full list of the companies and associations which have been set up under the auspices of his Department for purposes connected with the distribution of food commodities; the number of the staff employed by such companies and associations at their inception and to-day, and the payments made annually to the companies and associations for their services; and whether he will issue a White Paper setting out the text of the agreements with the distributors concerned for the setting up of these companies and associations and of any subsequent modifications of such agreements, including any agreements for the remuneration of distributors whose services have not been utilised by the companies and associations?

Following is the list of companies and associations in operation on 30th June, 1942: Animal Feeding Stuffs C.I.F. Buyers Association of Liverpool, Limited (also London, Bristol and Hull); Associated Canned Meat Importers, Limited; Associated Tripe Dressers, Limited; Associated U.K. Rice Millers, Limited; Association of Animal Gut Cleaners, Limited; Association of Casings Importers, Limited; Association of Wholesale Distributors of Imported Poultry and Rabbits, Limited; Bacon Importers National Defence Association, Limited; Bemast, Limited; British Millers Mutual Pool, Limited; Butter and Cheese Association, Limited; Cake and Biscuit Manufacturers' War Time Alliance, Limited; Candisco, Limited; Canners' (War Time) Association; Cereal Breakfast Food Manufacturers (War Time) Association; Cocoa and Chocolate (War Time) Association; Flour (Accessory Factors), Limited; F.M.S. (Potato Factories), Limited; Food Yeast Company, Limited; Frozen Egg Pool; Fruit Pulp Association, Limited; Humber Frozen Fish Distributing Company, Limited; Livestock Auctioneers Pool for England and Wales; London Tomato Distributing Association, Limited; Maize Starch Distributors Association; Marcom, Limited; Meat Importers National (Defence) Association, Limited; Milk Powder Pool, Limited; National Association of Dried Fruits Port Services, Limited; National Association of United Kingdom Oil and Oilseed Brokers, Limited; National Egg Distributors Association, Limited; Praba, Limited; Raw Fat Melters Association of Great Britain; Re-commissioned Mills, Limited; Rice Brokers, Limited; Scottish Association of Animal Gut Cleaners, Limited; Scottish Livestock Salesmen's Association; Spanish Sour Orange Importers' Association; Starch Distributors, Limited; Sugar Confectionery (War Time) Association; Tomatoes (Primary Distributors) Association, Limited; Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited (London, South Eastern, South Western, Midland, North Western, North Eastern, South of Scotland and North of Scotland).Agreements have also been concluded with the following pre-war companies and associations: National Association of Flour Importers, Limited; National Federation of Corn Trade Associations; National Seedcrushers Association; Tea Brokers Association of London.My Noble Friend regrets that he does not see his way to issue a White Paper embodying the texts of the various agreements entered into between the Ministry and these bodies, nor does he consider that the work involved in collecting the other particulars asked for in the Question would be justified, having regard to the great pressure of work on the Department at the present time. Speaking generally, war-time associations and companies have only been brought into existence by the Ministry where they were required to facilitate or regulate the manufacture or distribution of food supplies under wartime conditions, they are staffed by persons who would otherwise be employed in food manufacture or distribution, and the amounts which are being paid to these bodies as remuneration would be payable to individual traders if no such associations or companies existed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider making an allowance or amendment in connection with the return from small bakers and his intention to withdraw the subsidy; and whether he will give an assurance that after making reasonable allowance for amendment the percentage of profits of the small bakers will not be less than they were prior to the outbreak of hostilities?

It is not clear from the wording of the first part of my hon. Friend's Question what amendment or allowance he has in mind. I can assure him, however, that the profits to small bakers on bread-baking, as disclosed by the recent investigation into costs made by my Department, are not less than they were under the Food Council scale before the war, and there is contributory evidence that overall profits from all sources, including cakes and flour confectionery, have considerably increased.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the changes in connection with the type of bread made and the method of delivery between December, when the figures were taken, and May, when the Ministry issued their report, he will give consideration to the low average profits made in some areas and the withdrawal of permission to charge 8½d. in certain cases where returns were based on this price, as these new methods have materially reduced the number of one-pound loaves made which in the case of the smaller bakers contributed three-tenths of the profits; and will he alter his policy accordingly?

My Noble Friend cannot agree that his policy will lead to unduly low profits on bread-baking in any part of the United Kingdom. He has not, however, withdrawn permission to charge 8½d. per quartern, where this has been granted in respect of bread delivered in sparsely populated areas, but has, on the contrary, expressed willingness to consider applications for the extension of this concession to other areas where it can be shown that costs of delivery are unduly high.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, with a view to retaining as far as possible the whole of the 26,658 licensed bread bakeries throughout the country, he will reconsider the proposal to withdraw the whole of the additional subsidy?

My Noble Friend is satisfied that the withdrawal of the temporary subsidy on bread granted last October will have no substantial effect upon the number of licensed bread-bakers. He has, nevertheless, anticipated my hon. Friend's suggestion by granting until the end of September a subsidy of 2s. a sack on the first 8 sacks of bread produced weekly, pending production of further evidence by the National Association of Master Bakers, Confectioners and Caterers that such assistance is necessary. To the 15,000 smallest bakers this represents the retention of half the recent subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent he is encouraging the keeping of tame rabbits as an article of food; and what is the latest official estimate of such animals?

The production of tame rabbits is being encouraged, particularly on a domestic scale through the medium of domestic rabbit clubs formed under the aegis of the Domestic Poultry Keepers' Council, to whom the development of domestic rabbit-keeping has been entrusted. Tame rabbits must be fed mainly upon surplus greenstuff from hedgerows, gardens and allotments. Only a small allowance of bran is allowed for breeding does. This form of meat production is, therefore, generally more suitable for persons in rural than in urban areas. On 30th June there were 198,000 breeding does eligible for rations kept by commercial rabbit producers and 116,000 does kept by members of domestic rabbit clubs. I have no information of the total number of rabbits kept by these two classes of producers, but each doe produces on the average about 12 young rabbits a year.

asked the Minister of Information what efforts have been made to arrange for the interchange of regular daily programmes between the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the major American broadcasting companies?

There is an increasing exchange of programmes between the B.B.C. and the major American broadcasting systems, but there is no regular daily interchange. The B.B.C. North American representative is at present in this country to discuss plans for further exchanges.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is a direct air-mail service between the United Kingdom and Freetown, Sierra Leone; and, if not, is such contemplated?

The use of the air service for the carriage of mail from Sierra Leone to this country has recently been arranged, but I am informed that there is no immediate prospect of sufficient aircraft capacity being available in the outward direction to enable corresponding facilities to Sierra Leone to be established.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty in obtaining publications published by the Stationery Office on behalf of the Government, details of which have been furnished to him, particularly the numerous pamphlets and leaflets giving advice to agriculturalists and even to farm labourers; and whether he will arrange for some more accessible method of distribution than that now in force, namely, through the booksellers, an almost impossible method in small country districts, or direct application to the Stationery Office?

I have inquired about the publication mentioned in the letter which my hon. Friend sent me, but there is no evidence that the general public in country districts have found it difficult to obtain this or other similar official publications. More than 250,000 copies of the particular publication have been sold in the normal way. Any official publication not available at the local bookseller can be quickly obtained by post direct from the Stationery Office sales office in London or the nearest provincial sales office. The stocking of such publications at post offices would involve additional labour and the use of additional paper that cannot be contemplated in present circumstances which render necessary all possible economies in both.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the privilege of wearing civilian clothes on short pass under A.C.1.989/1942 includes late pass up to midnight spent away from the soldier's station?

A late pass is not leave and does not therefore carry this privilege.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible to relieve soldiers stationed in Malta continuously since December, 1938?

The desirability of relieving individuals who have served continuously abroad for long periods is fully recognised. But our power to do so is severely restricted by operational needs and shipping limitations. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the problem is especially difficult in the case of Malta.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the friction sometimes caused between the Fighting Services by the (widely differing degrees of interest aroused in their activities by their public relations departments, he will consider the advisability of issuing all information about these activities through one Department only and not through three separate and competing Departments as at present?

The present arrangements are the result of very careful consideration and I do not think that it is either practicable or desirable to alter them, but in the case of joint operations joint communiques are issued as far as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Form D, now used in connection with the transfer of securities by deed, might be abandoned in favour of a short declaration printed on the back of the transfer deeds, on the lines of the declaration used when securities are requisitioned through the Bank of England, and thus secure the saving of many tons of paper and much clerical labour?

I have this matter under consideration at the present time and I hope I may be able to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health the extent to which a desire for nursery schools has been expressed in the counties immediately bordering on the London county; and whether this has been met in substance?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind war-time nurseries rather than nursery schools, which are the concern of the Board of Education. The local authorities for the areas in the London region for Civil Defence (excluding the Metropolitan boroughs), have so far agreed with my Senior Regional Officer on a programme of about 165 nurseries. At the end of June, 62 of these were open, and another 50 approved, but not yet in operation. Every effort is being made to complete the programme at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will issue an instruction that clerical workers of the 20 to 30 age group employed in the smaller factories shall not be transferred to larger ones whilst such firms hold equal priority standing?

The transfer of all workers is arranged so that they are placed where they are most required, and in this connection the claims of small factories and large factories are considered impartially.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the trades and industries from which have been set up committees to recommend deferment from military service and in respect of which there is no minimum age limit to qualify for such deferment?

Committees have been set up to advise on applications for the deferment of calling up for military service of men employed in the legal and accountancy professions, and in insurance, stockbroking, newspapers, publishing, entertainment and film production. There is also a committee to advice on the applications in respect of male staff employed by employers' organisations and trade unions. A minimum age limit below which deferment of calling up is not normally granted has been laid down in all cases.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is much avoidable waste, both of time and paper, in the procedure adopted by the Ministry in the calling up of men for service in the Home Guard; and whether he will take measures accordingly?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the inquiries addressed to the man and his employer in order to ascertain his domestic circumstances, the work on which he is employed and any Civil Defence duties on which he may be already engaged. These inquiries cannot be dispensed with and necessarily involve a considerable expenditure of time and paper. I am at present considering whether the procedure can be simplified and if my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make for this purpose I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Health the extent to which local authorities are incurring fresh expenditure other than for war purposes; and whether, in view of such expenditure and the need for economy, his Department is issuing any advice on the subject?

I have no precise information in this matter, but the total of the loans for capital purposes which I sanctioned during the year ended 31st March last only amounted to 8 per cent. of the total during the year ended 31st March, 1939. Before sanction is given I require to be satisfied that the work is of such urgent necessity as to warrant, in present circumstances, the call on labour and materials involved. I have no reason to think that local authorities are not fully aware of the need for economy, and in view of the strict control of capital expenditure I do not contemplate the issue of advice on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that James Gerrard MacMahon was sentenced at Sheffield recently to 12 months' imprisonment for obtaining 4s. 6d. under false pretences; and whether he will consider remitting some, or all, of the sentence?

I understand that the defendant has appealed to quarter sessions against the decision of the court of summary jurisdiction. I cannot intervene in a case which is still pending before the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether orders have been issued to grant men 10 days leave where their wives are expecting to be confined, as is done in the Army?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that for 20 years protests and petitions have been addressed to his officials in Jerusalem by the Jerusalem Bar to remove the discrimination that exists the appointment of notaries public and the limitation of such appointments to members of the English Bar; that these petitions have been answered only by repeated denials; and the reason for delaying the promulgation of the draft Foreign Notary Public Bill since 1932, published in the Jerusalem Gazette, No. 310, the enactment of which would remedy this grievance?

I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the reply given by my predecessor to a similar Question on 19th December last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Article 15 of the Mandate and the Principal Order in Council prescribe that no discrimination is to be made between the inhabitants of the Holy Land on the grounds of race, religion or language, and that the Advocates (Forensic Robes) Rules of 1928 providing for separate robing and wearing of the wig by about 20 advocates in the Holy Land who have been called to the English Bar, leaving the native Bar of nearly 800 without this privilege is a grievance and a discrimination with unfavourable social and economical reactions; and whether he proposes to take steps to remove this cause of discontent?

My Noble Friend will communicate with the High Commissioner for Palestine with regard to my hon. Friend's representations in this matter, and I will communicate to him in due course the result of this inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, when established footpaths are being ploughed up as part of the greater production campaign, provision will be made for their re-establishment after the war?

Unless there is an established right to plough a footpath in the regular course of cultivation, an authorisation is necessary under Defence Regulation 62. (5A) before a footpath can lawfully be ploughed. It is one of the conditions of granting any such authorisation that the occupier shall give a written undertaking to restore all rights in respect of the footpath as soon as the Regulation shall cease to be in force.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an estimate of the reduction in the numbers of poultry maintained and eggs produced which is likely to follow the reduction of the poultry ration?

Insufficient data are available on which to base a firm estimate of the figures for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether there is any objection to the adoption of regulations providing that members of the Mercantile Marine exposed to the risks of torpedoing shall be supplied with an iron ration, to be carried on their persons?

This has been considered on several occasions during the war and the conclusion reached has been that, for practical reasons, the carriage of iron rations on the person should not be made compulsory. The rationing of lifeboats and rafts was reviewed last year, and a completely new scale of emergency rations, giving approximately three times the amount of water and largely increased food value, has been brought into operation.