asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking, in view of the difficulties experienced by mothers with limited resources, in obtaining delivery of perambulators and as the minimum annual output for which he has allotted certain materials cannot be maintained owing to shortage of labour?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby). The programme for perambulators has been well maintained so far in spite of labour difficulties, and the output is increasing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to give any indication of the action to be taken on the Third Report of the Retail Trade Committee; and what specific steps he has taken to consult the interests concerned?

Discussions with organisations representing all classes of retail traders and their employees, as well as with the other Government Departments concerned, are now in progress.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the introduction of the increased tour of duty for firemen in the Midlands area has had the effect of withdrawing from industry a substantial contribution which was made by firemen on their alternate off-duty shifts; and whether, in view of the desirability of enabling firemen to engage in productive work to the largest possible degree, he will make new arrangements to this end?

I am aware that such representations have been made, but I cannot accept the principle that operational efficiency should be reduced in order to give full-time firemen greater opportunities of obtaining secondary employment, even though that work may be related to the national effort. As regards the desirability of enabling members of the National Fire Service to undertake productive work in industry, my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that arrangements are being made to release from the service as many men as possible for this purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make immediate inquiry into the case of a medical woman graduate of London University who, with several other women, is detained at Holloway Prison under Regulation 18B and under conditions, authentic description of which has been furnished to him, and which call for explanation and remedy?

I have already directed an inquiry to be made into the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in certain electoral divisions, an example of which has been submitted to him, no register has been issued since 1939; that a prospective voter has been informed that no register will be issued until after the war and his application to be registered was refused; and whether he will take steps to remedy a position which disfranchises persons entitled to vote?

Parliament has each year since 1939 decided that the Register of Electors for 1939 shall remain in force and that no new register shall be prepared. The statutory provisions are contained in the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Acts of 1931, 1940 and 1941.

asked the President of the Board of Education the percentage of the children in the respective areas receiving meals at elementary and secondary schools?

The information required by the hon. Member is contained in Command 6361, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any miners have been released from other duties since 1st January, 1942, to take up work in Scottish coalmines; and, if so, how many?

Between 3rd January, 1942, and 4th July, 1942, 768 men relased from the Army and the Royal Air Force have started work in coalmines in Scotland. In the same period 1,048 men have been transferred to coalmines in Scotland from other industries. Owing to the wastage of manpower from the industry, it should not be assumed that these figures represent a nett addition to the number of men employed in the Scottish coalmines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of men employed in Scottish coalmines on 1st September, 1939; the number so employed on 1st September, 1941, and at the present time?

The number of wage-earners on colliery books in Scotland was 87,318 on 2nd September, 1939. It would not be in the public interest to publish the figures of employment during the war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the tonnage of coal raised in Scotland in the year ended 31st August, 1939, and the corresponding figure for the year ended 31st August, 1941?

The quantity of saleable coal raised in Scotland during the year ended 31st August, 1939, was 30,831,900 tons. It would not be in the public interest to publish the figure for the corresponding period ended 31st August, 1941.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to give the personnel and the terms of reference of the Committee of Inquiry into the future industrial prospects of the coal mining areas in Scotland?

On the recommendation of the Scottish Council of ex-Secretaries of State, and with the concurrence of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, I have appointed a Committee

"To consider the present position and future prospects of coalfields in Scotland and to report:

(a) what measures should be taken to enable the fullest use to be made of existing and potential resources in these coalfields; and

(b) in this connection what provision of houses and other services will be required for the welfare of the mining community."

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to study the problems of, and prepare for, national measures of post-war reconstruction, particularly in relation to the smooth and rapid transfer of workers from war to peace production, to the demobilisation of officers and men in the Services and their re-establishment in industry and commerce, to the provision of houses, and to the need for an improved educational system?

My right hon. and learned Friend the Paymaster-General is charged with general responsibility for organising and co-ordinating the work on recon- struction problems now being carried out by the various Departments of State. As questions of policy arise they are submitted for consideration to a Committee of Ministers of which the Paymaster-General is Chairman. Subject at all times to the over-riding demands of the war effort, the work is being carried steadily forward on a comprehensive plan, including all the matters to which reference is made in the Question and many others.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many past and present members or employees of the firm of Messrs. Slaughter and May are borne on the Foreign Office Vote?

None, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what were the prices for the plum crop decided upon at a conference of the representatives of the Ministry and of the growers on or about 1st July?

No decisions were reached at the conference to which my hon. Friend refers but, as is usual with conferences of this character, certain suggestions and counter-suggestions were put forward for discussion, on the footing that my Noble Friend's decision thereon would be reserved pending further consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the proprietary medical products for which the Confidential Instruction, C.M.C. 191, to controlled millers authorised utilisation of the wheat-germ separated from wheat in milling; and on what basis and on what medical advice this selection of products was made?

I have been asked to reply. The proprietary medical products referred to in the instructions mentioned by my hon. Friend are Bemax, Froment, and also the vitamin preparations manufactured by Allen and Hanburys Limited and by Glaxo Laboratories Limited. The priority supply of germ for other preparations is under consideration. Priority is granted on consideration of the manufacturer's application having regard to the necessity for the product in existing circumstances. The necessary medical advice is obtained by consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Secretary of War whether he will be able to publish in the near future the total number of prisoners taken by the Japanese; at what rate the names and descriptions of prisoners are now being received; and whether he has any further information regarding their treatment?

We have received some lists of names of United Kingdom Service and civilian personnel captured at Hong Kong. These lists continue to come in, and the number of names notified to this country up to the present date is about 2,500. I have no further information about the full list in respect of Malaya. With regard to the second part of the Question, I regret that I have as yet no further reliable information to give to my hon. Friend regarding the treatment of our prisoners by the Japanese.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the shortage of pipe tobacco on sale at Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' canteens at Royal Air Force stations, a shortage which has increased since the last Budget, he will take steps to increase the supply available at all Royal Air Force stations where necessary and, in particular, at the one of which he has been informed?

The total quantities of tobacco supplied for sale by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are limited to those allowed to be sold at pre-Budget prices. The proportion as between pipe tobacco and cigarettes is fixed according to estimated demand and can be varied if necessary. I am looking into the position at the particular station of which the hon. Member has informed me and will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to publish the next instalment of the London Telephone Directory; and whether, during the continuance of infrequent publication, he will, in justice to subscribers, arrange for the issue of occasional supplements of the directory?

In view of the vital need for further economy in paper, I am considering whether publication of the next instalment of the London Telephone Directory can be deferred until the early part of 1943. I recognise the inconvenience caused to subscribers in having to obtain new numbers by calling "Directory Inquiries," but I feel confident that they will willingly accept this inconvenience in view of the substantial additional weight of paper which would be required if a supplement were issued.