asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the satisfaction given by the organisation of enjoyment for the people brought about by the circular issued by his Ministry; is it intended to make this a permanent feature; will he consider later the experience gained in order to increase and improve the facilities; why no action was taken in the large industrial area of Sal-ford; and will he give the industrial areas where no action was taken in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

The reports I have so far received indicate that the "Holidays-at-Home" schemes organised by local authorities have been most successful, and I should like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of these local efforts. Whether they will be a permanent feature of our social organisation is not a matter which I can forecast but steps are being taken to keep a careful record of this year's experience as a guide for the future. As regards Salford, I understand that the annual holiday was commonly taken at Whitsun, and that it was not possible to organise holiday activities locally so early in the year. I regret the information asked for at the end of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of nurses, special consideration will be given to releasing women who volunteer for nursing?

After consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, I have instructed my officers that, in all the cases in which releases require their permission, women who wish to volunteer for nursing should be allowed to do so irrespective of their occupation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Press notice issued last March applies to employers not engaged directly or indirectly in war production?

The Press notice as to leave for women with husbands in the Forces or Mercantile Marine related to all employers, whether or not directly engaged in war production.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in cases where a man and his wife are employed in different essential industries which have selected different weeks for their works holidays, he will give authority for the wife to be granted her holiday for the same week as the husband's holiday?

I have a great deal of sympathy with the point made by my hon. and gallant Friend, but it will be appreciated that the holiday arrangements of each factory must be planned primarily with reference to the organisation of the factory and the needs of production. I hope, however, that employers will do what is practicable to meet requests from employees in such cases as that referred to in the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the inconvenience and difficulty caused to residents of Kegworth, Leicestershire, who at present must go to the Ministry of Labour's office in Castle Donington to register, he will arrange for a representative from his Ministry to attend one day per week in Kegworth?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men of military age are still retained as exempt at the headquarters and district offices of the Transport and General Workers Union; and what proportion these men bear to the total clerical staff?

As stated in reply to a previous Question asking for similar information about a private firm, I am not prepared to publish information of this kind in respect of individual undertakings or organisations.

Is it not a fact that at the Finsbury Park offices of this union 50 per cent. of the employees are of military age? Would they not give better service if they joined the Fighting Services, and could not their work be equally well done by women?

I have taken the line that when man-power boards deal with particular firms and organisations I accept their decisions, whether they apply to private firms or unions, and I do not bring their decisions into public discussion.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman can inquire into this case and find out whether some men could be released?

I am making constant inquiries all the time and reviewing all cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will call upon each of the Fighting Services for the numbers of men and women who have been called up but whose postings have been deferred, and returned to await further instructions; whether by means of increased training facilities, or otherwise, he will arrange that the time of such deferment be limited and that so far as possible no persons called up for service should be without instructions and merely placed on waiting lists?

I have the information to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The scale of training facilities which it is possible to make available depends on many factors and no recruits are kept waiting longer than is absolutely necessary. So far as possible, recruits on deferred service are warned of the probable time that will elapse before they are required. In no case are they left without instructions.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the idea which is getting around that there is no vacancy in any part of the war effort is fostering a spirit of frustration throughout the country, and will he take steps to make it known that there is, every day and every hour, something that somebody can do in the war effort?

I am not aware that that idea is getting around; if it is, I am sure my hon. and gallant Friend's Question will have contradicted it. The aim, where there is any deferment, is that people should carry on with their jobs or perhaps with some other job until they are called up.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking some steps to put into effect what he has just said, so that the words "waiting list" shall not be known in connection with services wanted for the war effort?

I do not know whether my hon. and gallant Friend is not referring merely to a matter of nomenclature. It is necessary that certain people should be deferred, but it has been made abundantly plain that while they are waiting they should be carrying on with their ordinary jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the issue of import licences in India for goods ordered before the introduction of the new Import Licensing Regulations, which took effect on 1st July?

In the case of items in respect of which an import licence was required before 1st July for imports from the United Kingdom, any licences already granted will remain valid. In the case of items in respect of which an import assistance recommendation has been issued by the Government of India, an import licence will be granted as a matter of course on application by the importer in India. It is, therefore, safe for such items, to be shipped from this country in anticipation of the issue of the licence. In other cases exporters are advised to delay shipment until they have ascertained that an import licence has been granted in India. The Government of India are advising importers in India to take the initiative in applying for licences in respect of outstanding orders and informing suppliers here promptly when these have been obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for India the financial surplus on the Indian State railways during the last official year; whether, in view of the low pay of the staff and the small allowances granted to meet increased cost of living, any of that surplus is to be used for the purpose of granting an increase in pay; and whether any recent consultation on this matter has taken place with the railwaymen's trade union?

The railway surplus for 1941–42 was expected to be Rs. 26.2 crores (£19,650,000). This figure was arrived at after charging a sum of nearly Rs. 1.5 crores (£1,100,000) for payment of cost-of-living bonuses to the lower-paid staff, which was fixed after discussion, and in agreement, with the representatives of organised labour. The surplus earned by the railways, except so far as required to be placed to reserve, goes to the relief of the Indian taxpayer, who has previously had to bear the burden of the unprofitable years of depression.

Is it not a fact that the organised workers on the Indian State railways are dissatisfied, and in the circumstances does not the right hon. Gentleman think it proper that of the £19,000,000 some portion should be allocated for a reasonable increase in wages?

As I explained, the increases were granted after discussion with and in agreement with representatives of railway labour.

Are not the wages still miserably low in many cases, and do they not require some augmentation?

Wages in India are low.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in recognition of the services to the allied cause of the French and Danish communities in this country, he will extend to them the exemptions from the restrictions upon aliens recently given to allied nationals?

While I am glad to pay tribute to the services which are being rendered to the Allied cause by the French and Danish communities, I regret that I should not feel justified in extending automatically by general order to the nationals of States which are not at war with the Axis powers the privileges recently granted to nationals of Allied States. I have, however, considered whether any steps can be taken to meet the special case of the French and Danish civilian and unofficial communities, and I have decided to give to individual French and Danish nationals, who satisfy me that they are trustworthy and loyal supporters of the Allied cause, exemptions of a general character from the restrictions upon the movements of aliens. Individual French and Danish nationals who desire to obtain general exemption from these restrictions should communicate with the police of the district in which they reside.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, which will give great satisfaction, may I ask whether every application will receive the most sympathetic consideration?

Yes, Sir.

Is there any appeal against a decision of the local police?

No, Sir, though sometimes representations are made to us and we ask for the observations of the police; but this matter must be administered locally, and the decision must be the decision of the chief constable.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is possible to extend this change to cover cases where Danes or French marry here, so that the women they marry will not lose their British nationality, and also allow his decision to operate in the case of adopting the child of an alien?

That does raise a rather different issue from that in the Question on the Paper. I will consider it, but my impression is that it would require legislation.

Will this regulation apply to Norwegian nationals as well?

They are already covered rather more advantageously because the Norwegian Government are at war with the Axis.

asked the Home Secretary the cause of the delay in dealing with the case of an alien, about whom he has been informed, brought back from Canada two months ago and now in the Isle of Man; what inquiries are still uncompleted; and when a decision will be made?

The alien to whom I assume that my hon. Friend refers was brought back from Canada for consideration of the question of his eligibility for release. The fact that he has been offered employment is not in itself sufficient reason for authorising the release of a man who does not fall within any of the categories of civilian internees eligible for release from internment, as laid down in the White Paper (Cmd. 6233) of October, 1940, which still remains the basis of the Government's policy. The position of this particular case was explained to my hon. Friend by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in a letter of 24th June, and I am still awaiting the replies to the inquiries which had then already been initiated. I hope to be in a position to reach a decision at a very early date, when I will not fail to inform my hon. Friend.

In view of the fact that I was informed in the right hon. Gentleman's Department that these inquiries would not take more than a month and that considerably over two months have elapsed, can he expedite this matter?

I will do all I can, but I cannot accept the view that there was delay in the Home Office. Inquiries had to be made by the Ministry of Labour, and I do not think there was any undue delay there, because the alien arrived back on 12th May but unfortunately did not register with the Ministry of Labour, and, indeed, it was left to the Home Office to approach the Ministry of Labour on his behalf.

asked the Home Secretary what action he proposes to take regarding the distribution of subversive literature among Yorkshire miners by young men between the ages of 25 and 30 who are being paid £10 a week to distribute this literature?

Such information as is available to me does not suggest that men are being paid £10 a week to distribute the literature to which my hon. Friend refers, or that this literature has any appreciable influence in the mining industry or elsewhere, but I am making some further inquiries in the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire in particular of the gentleman who made this statement and ask him to produce the specific evidence upon which he based his statement?

Yes, Sir. I have given instructions that suitable inquiries should be made, and I shall be very glad of any help that Mr. Hall can give me.

While the Minister is making inquiries about the possible bad effect of these activities, will he also consider what would be the good effect which could be produced by the "Daily Worker"?

I would ask my hon. Friend not to be too keen upon suppressions. This organisation is only pursuing much the same political policy as he and his own political friends pursued before the Soviet Union was attacked.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties, to prison staffs and prisoners alike, arising from the incarceration of convicted prisoners and 18B detainees in the same penal establishments, the two types of prisoner being governed by separate and different disciplinary regulations; and whether he will take steps to end this situation?

asked the Home Secretary whether he can assure the House that prompt disciplinary measures will be taken against any man or woman detained under Regulation 18B who refuses to obey reasonable instructions from the prison authorities, or who endeavours in any way to obstruct the prison employees in the execution of their duties?

Persons detained in prison under Regulation 18B who are guilty of breaches of discipline are liable to punishment as provided by the Prison Rules and may be reported and dealt with as circumstances require in the same way as prisoners. As such persons are detained for custodial purposes, and not by way of punishment, they are allowed certain privileges which are not accorded to ordinary prisoners: and this difference in methods of treatment is liable to cause difficulties to the prison staffs—to whose good work in overcoming these difficulties a tribute of appreciation is due. Most of the persons detained under Regulation 18B have been sent to the Isle of Man. There are, however, a few persons who for various reasons, including the temporary accommodation of persons coming from Isle of Man to attend before the Advisory Committee, are detained in prison. I recognise that there would be advantages from the administrative point of view if all such persons could be accommodated elsewhere than in prison, but I regret that for the present at any rate the difficulties of providing and staffing separate establishments with suitable accommodation are such that this course is impracticable.

Is not the Home Secretary aware that there is one prison which is entirely unoccupied at the moment and which could be used to segregate the 18B prisoners from the ordinary prisoners; and does he not realise that while the prison staff appreciate the tribute he has paid to them, they would much more appreciate being delivered from a situation which, from the disciplinary and other points of view, is almost impossible?

I appreciate the point which the hon. Member has raised, but the number involved is only 55——

Just the accommodation of that prison.

That is remarkable——plus 26 persons temporarily there waiting to attend before the Advisory Committee, etc., and I do not think I ought to be pressed to open a special prison establishment, with all the necessary overhead charges that are involved for this purpose. While I appreciate that there are difficulties for the prison staff, I think they have surmounted them very well, and it is not a bad thing for the prison staff that they should have some variety in the class of cases which they handle, for this develops their ingenuity and adaptability.

Will my right hon. Friend be willing to receive representations from the prison staff themselves as to what is involved in this double set of regulations in the same prison?

I should require to consider that point.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now investigated the statement and allegations made by an Indian doctor respecting his treatment by officials of the censor's office at Liverpool; and whether he has taken any action in the matter?

I received yesterday from my hon. Friend a copy of the statement to which he refers. I am having inquiries made and will communicate further with him in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the estate of a Home Guard who dies on active service is charged with Estate Duty?

The estate of any member of the Home Guard who dies from wounds inflicted, accidents occurring or disease contracted whilst on duty is entitled to the relief from Death Duties conferred on the estates of soldiers, sailors and airmen by Section 38 of the Finance Act, 1924.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how the Scottish case, in which judgment has been reserved, came about?

I understand that the case is at present before the Court of Session in Edinburgh, and therefore I cannot comment on it.

Has not the attitude of the Government in regard to Estate Duty been inconsistent with their attitude in regard to the pensions of Home Guard officers?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will permit Army doctors to attend civilian cases where the ordinary practitioners, already in many cases over-worked, have their numbers depleted by sickness?

Army medical officers may where necessary assist civilian doctors so long as this does not interfere with their military duties. In addition, many medical officers have been granted temporary release from the Army to meet civilian needs.

Does this reply apply only to specialists?

No, Sir, it does not.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he proposes to receive the promised deputation of Voluntary Aid Detachments?

My right hon. Friend hopes to receive the deputation very shortly.

Why has this deputation been so constantly postponed?

Discussions have been going on in the meantime between the War Office and the voluntary organisations concerned. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that my right hon. Friend is just as keen as he is to get this matter settled quickly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that, in view of the demand for manpower for the Services, young men of military age are not being exempted as Press officers, assistant Press officers, public relations officers and engaged on work of publicity committees, where there are older and more experienced men available?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to officials engaged on Press and public relations work in Government Departments. The question of the reservation of these officers, as of other civil servants, is kept under review by the Kennet Committee. In that con- nection I would refer him to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Deritend (Sir J. Smedley Crooke) on 3rd June.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the very high percentage of these men who are of military age and could be serving, and is he not further aware of the enormous demand of the agricultural community for men? Does it not make an unfortunate impression if these men are exempt while other men who are wanted for work are not exempt?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the reply to which I have referred him, he will see that his assumption is incorrect.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend not aware of the enormous number who ought to be serving, and does he not think it is very wrong?

No, Sir, because there is no such number. Again I invite my hon. Friend to look at my answer.

Is it necessary to employ 1,019 people at a cost of £400,000, in order to advertise Government Departments?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many of the personnel recently found to be redundant are still retained in his Department; and what is the grading and the scale of pay of the officers concerned?

Out of a number of 96 officers recently notified as available for transfer only 25 now remain. Of these one is due to leave at the end of the month, one is shortly to be called up for military service, and three are due to retire under the age limit in a few weeks' time. Details of grades and salaries will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the fact that, in reply to an earlier Question, it was revealed that a temporary officer could be transferred from one post, exempt from military service to another, within 24 hours, can the Minister say why it has taken two months to dispose of only three-quarters of the people affected and how long it will take to dispose of the remainder?

That inquiry should be addressed to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The Department does not move its own officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, and to what extent, the Scottish Education Department is co-operating in the work of the committees recently set up under the chairmanship of Dr. McNair and Lord Fleming, respectively; and whether, and to what extent, Scotland benefits from, and participates in, the work of the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts?

The Scottish Education Department has already tendered information about the Scottish training system to the first Committee referred to in the Question, and I am keeping in close touch with the second Committee in so far as anything may emerge from its deliberations which impinges upon Scottish conditions. I am considering the re-constitution of the Advisory Council under Section 20 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, with a view to its undertaking inquiries related to education in Scotland.

I beg to give notice, in view of that unsatisfactory reply and of the apparently complete lack of liaison between one Government Department and another, that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Is the Scottish Education Department represented on either of the two Committees to which I have referred, and what is the assurance that Scottish interests are in fact reflected in the work of those Committees?

In the body of my answer I said that I was considering referring matters relating to Scottish education to an Advisory Council on Education, but as the hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware, the terms of reference to the English Committees would not have been applicable to Scottish conditions.

While I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the second part of his reply, would he consider remitting to that Council the problem of the training of teachers in Scotland and also the extension of the idea of the boarding school to the ordinary boy?

I can assent to the first part of the Question, we are already considering that; but I should like to give more careful consideration to the second part of my hon. Friend's Supplementary Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what staff there is in the Department which deals with producer-gas and who is the director in charge?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, who is now in charge of the department dealing with producer-gas in the Ministry of War Transport; and what qualifications the holder has for this post; what is his salary; and what is his age?

The Director of Producer Gas Vehicles is Sir Alfred Faulkner, who is 60 years of age and has special experience of fuel problems. The salary attaching to the post is £1,200 per annum. The senior staff at present proposed includes an administrative officer, and three technical men, a mechanical engineer, a chemist and a production engineer, with the necessary technical and clerical assistance.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the salary of £1,200 a year is in addition to the pen- sion which this gentleman receives on retiring?

The pension is adjusted so that the total receipts, including the salary and the reduced pension, are equal to the salary which Sir Alfred Faulkner previously received in his previous post.

Is my right hon. Friend absolutely convinced that such a post is necessary at all?

My Noble Friend certainly thinks it is, or he would not have made the appointment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the method of producing this kind of gas?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether Sir Alfred Faulkner is still employed in his Ministry?

No, Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether he was retired under the age limit?

I think I had better refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to his previous Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that large quantities of sweet marketable oats are now available for purchase in Aberdeenshire, and that even larger quantities of last year's crop have been allowed seriously to deteriorate owing to lack of local storage accommodation; and whether, if the Ministry is not prepared to purchase these oats, he will remove them from the list of rationed feeding-stuffs?

I am aware that considerable quantities of oats are available for purchase in Aberdeenshire. Arrangements have been made for further purchases by my Department in this area in the immediate future, and there will also be a large demand for oats as rationed feeding-stuffs in the month of August. My Noble Friend is not prepared to remove oats from the list of rationed feeding-stuffs.

Is my hon. Friend aware that thousands of quarters of oats are rotting in Aberdeenshire, and of the failure of the Ministry of Food to take the necessary action? What is the use, in those circumstances, of asking farmers to grow more oats?

I was not aware of waste to the extent suggested, but instructions have just been issued to purchase a very large quantity of Aberdeenshire oats. The demand in August for such food-stuffs will be very large indeed, and I think that will relieve the situation. The Ministry of Food are anxious that these oats shall not be wasted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can make a statement about the case of Seymour Sydney, who was tried at the Old Bailey on Friday, 10th July; the number of tons of food found by the police and its value; the amount of money paid by one of the defendants to Seymour Sydney for food stored in the West End; and whether he has seen the statement about the defendant made by the judge who tried the case?

Seymour Sydney was sentenced to four years penal servitude and fined £2,000 for offences against the Department's Statutory Rules and Orders, and at the same time sentences were imposed on other persons involved in the case. The approximate number of tons of food found by the police was 20, and the approximate value based on the maximum retail prices was £1,200. I assume that the reference in the third part of the Question is to the amount paid by Jean Alphonse Pages to Sydney for the food which had been seized by the police. I understand that Pages paid approximately £2,700 for these foodstuffs. I have read the statement referred to in the Question.

When this man comes out of prison will he have been relieved of his financial obligation?

I would like notice of that Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why, in view of the fact that retail prices of the various sorts of plums have been announced, the growers' price has not been announced, and will he announce it forthwith?

Growers' prices of plums were announced at the same time and in the same Press notice as the wholesale and retail prices. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant Press notice issued by my Department.

Will the hon. Gentleman have a look at that Press notice? Farmers may be uneducated, but they cannot find the growers' prices in that notice, and this delay causes great uncertainty among the growers, who do not know yet.

I will look into that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that children who for medical reasons are unable to attend school cannot, even upon the certificate of a doctor, obtain the milk to which children attending schools are entitled; and whether speedy step will be taken to alter the regulations to meet the cases of children suffering from protracted disabilities?

As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, there is no restriction on the amount of milk that can be obtained by consumers at the present time. Arrangements are being made which will enable children who are unable to attend school to obtain a priority supply of milk at home during any future period of restriction.

Will that answer apply to the case about which I have written to my hon. Friend?

I am sorry, but I have no knowledge of the case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Perhaps he might discuss it with me afterwards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the House any information about the possibility of using heat-resisting glass as a substitute for rubber in the manufacture of hot water bottles?

Consideration is being given to the possibility of increasing the output of substitutes for rubber hot water bottles, including those made of heat resisting glass, having regard to the competing demands for labour and materials for war production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information in connection with the case heard at Bow Street police court against George Black who obtained 13,000 yards of material which should have been covered by 26,000 coupons; and what action did he take in the case?

Paprika, Ltd., a company in which George Black is a majority shareholder, purchased 13,000 yards of rationed material without surrendering coupons. Accordingly, proceedings were instituted by the Board of Trade against the company and Mr. Black. They were each fined £2,000. Proceedings are pending against the suppliers of the material.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a short supply of baby push-cars, and perambulators; and whether he will arrange an increased output of these articles on a utility design basis at prices within the means of ordinary wage-earners and the wives of men serving in the Forces?

Materials, capacity and labour, which in peace-time would be devoted to making perambulators, are of course in demand for war production. Some simplifications in design to save materials and labour were introduced last year and have been followed by a considerable increase in production, and the position is being examined to see whether further progress can be made on these lines. The Central Price Regulation Committee are investigating the prices, including the question of maximum prices, as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the area of cultivable land in the vicinity of Newmarket used for horse-racing and training purposes; and the area of such land already ploughed up?

Out of a total of 2,359 acres in the Newmarket area held by the Jockey Club for horse-racing and training purposes, 1,668 acres have been requisitioned or earmarked for military purposes and 196 acres have been ploughed up and put under arable cultivation, leaving an area of 495 acres for the original purpose. I should add that out of a total of 7,990 acres of grassland on stud farms in the same area, 2,910 acres have been ploughed up and a considerable part of the remainder is used for the grazing of dairy herds.

Having regard to the great reduction in the number of horses, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether ground used for training might at least be further used for agricultural purposes?

No, Sir. I do not accept that, because it is earmarked for military purposes.

Is the Minister aware that much of the remaining land is of very poor quality indeed, and unlikely to grow corn? Will he consider first ploughing up golf courses and other land used for sport before curtailing horse breeding further?

Why does not the Minister use his influence to get land such as this used for battle training purposes, and not allow the Secretary of State for War to steal all his good farms in East Anglia?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there are still in the South of England thousands of acres of commons and also of parks, public and private, uncultivated, though capable of bearing cereal crops; and whether he will instruct the war agricultural committees to use their powers to have these lands cultivated and take steps to ensure that they are supplied with the necessary labour and implements for the purpose?

The extent to which land of the classes described can be brought into cultivation is conditioned, as my right hon. Friend recognises, by our resources of man-power and implements, to which I would add fertilisers. The augmentation of the supply of all these requirements is receiving my constant attention, but is not within my sole con- trol. No further instructions to war agricultural executive committees are needed to stimulate them to use their powers to the fullest extent consistent with the available resources.