asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements have now been made to enable the substantial quantities of textiles, originally intended for the Dutch East Indies, to be sold in other export markets; and, if so, can, he give the headings of the agreements?

Following discussions between the Cotton Board and the Netherlands Trading and Shipping Committee, arrangements have been made for the release of these goods to other markets. The goods will be exported mainly to West Africa, where they are urgently needed. I shall be happy to send my hon. Friend a copy of the agreement as soon as it has been signed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the provision of clothing coupons for protective clothing, overalls, jackets and aprons, for" those engaged in food shops to enable them to purchase these articles of clothing?

Yes, Sir. I have already decided to grant supplementary clothing coupons to certain sections of the workers referred to, and I am now considering what further sections shall receive these coupons.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the number of men employed by the Commission in administrative posts as foremen or similar categories who are below the age of 40?

The information required by the hon. Member is not immediately available, but it is being obtained and will be communicated as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what work has been achieved by his Public Relations Department since its inception; and what steps it has taken to simplify administration of the Income Tax law for the general public?

Since his appointment two months ago, the Public Relations Officer of the Board of Inland Revenue, in addition to the general duty of supplying information to the Press on matters of public interest in regard to taxation matters, has given broadcasts on Income Tax, including one in Welsh, and has been engaged in the preparation of explanatory literature, including a revised edition of "Income Tax Quiz for Wage Earners" which will shortly be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps have been taken in his Department during the past 10 months to ensure that merit and not seniority is the governing factor in promotions and appointments; and whether he can supply a list of officers and civil servants in key positions of importance in the Air Ministry who are under the age of 45?

It has always been the practice in the Air Ministry to base promotions or appointments on the fitness of the individual for the post. As regards the second part of the Question, the numbers of civil servants in the higher administrative, executive, professional and technical grades, and of R.A.F. officers of the rank of group captain and above employed in the Air Ministry who are under the age of 45, are as follow:Administrative staff 30, out of a total of 124.Technical staff 26, out of a total of 57.R.A.F. officers 46, out of a total of 133.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken in his Department during the past 12 months to ensure that merit, and not seniority, is the governing factor in promotions and appointments; and whether he can supply a list of officers and Civil Servants in key positions of importance in the Admiralty who are under the age of 45?

The importance of merit is constantly in mind in the Admiralty in making promotions and appointments and no specific steps on the lines indicated in the Question have been found to be required.The figures asked for in the second part of the Question are as follow:

—		Naval and Marine Officers: Captains R.N., Colonels R.M. and above.	Civil Officers: Principals (or equivalent rank) and above.
Under 45	…	46	27
Over 45	…	215	159
Total	…	261	186

asked the Home Secretary the results of the new air-raid exercises with gas rattles; and whether such exercises are to be general?

The results of recent gas exercises with rattles have been to increase public interest in anti-gas precautions. They have afforded an opportunity to rectify any defects in respirators and respirator fitting, and Civil Defence personnel have received useful practice and instruction. The exercises, moreover, have led to improvements in the design of the rattles themselves, whereby audibility has been increased. With regard to the second part of the Question, local authorities have been instructed to hold tear gas exercises from time to time provided that they do not cause serious inconvenience or dislocation of the war effort.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that broken glass is still dropping from bombed houses on the pathways and approaches, he will direct local authorities to warn householders of the need for repairs?

I have received no complaints on this subject, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars of the cases that have come to his notice, I will at once ask the local authorities concerned to take the necessary action.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction, detailed information of which has been conveyed to him, at the headquarters section responsible for mechanical and electrical maintenance of Royal Ordnance factories, engineering factories, resulting in the resignation of several employees, owing to certain appointments in which persons of high technical skill have been superseded by persons obviously less well qualified for the work proposed; and whether he will make an inquiry into this?

Full inquiry has been made into this matter and I can discover no basis for the allegation of considerable dissatisfaction in the headquarters section of the Royal Ordnance Factories administration in question. One young man left to join the Royal Air Force, another was transferred to another post in the ordinary course of business and a third young man resigned because someone better qualified was appointed to a higher post. This latter appointment was made after careful selection.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will inquire into the case of a graduate of London University, File SK/82/1 (S.E.3), Ministry of Supply, details of which have been furnished him, who appears to have been unjustly dismissed from a certain Ordnance Factory and take steps to remedy the injustice?

I have carefully considered this case. I cannot accept the suggestion that the officer in question was unjustly dismissed. I regret that it was necessary that he should be retired. He has received the appropriate gratuity under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the surplus labour at the Government war factories in South Wales and Monmouthshire has been brought about by substituting 12-hour shifts for 8-hour shifts; and can he give the number of persons working regular 12-hour shifts at these factories?

There has been no substitution of 12-hour shifts for eight-hour shifts at Royal Ordnance Factories in South Wales and Monmouthshire. At one Royal Ordnance Factory in this area, 300 persons are at present employed on a 12-hour night shift, but it is intended to substitute a three-shift system as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that 7,000,000 tons a year of shipping space are used for importing materials from which to make beer besides a large consumption of shipping space for the import of materials for the manufacture of spirits involving protective convoy with all the risks attached to it in which the American Navy is concerned; and whether he will take measures such as were carried out in the last war to use as food materials at present employed in brewing and distilling?

The suggestion in the first part of the Question, which has been made, I understand, in an American magazine, is not correct. The only imported material used in the brewing of beer is sugar of which about 70,000 tons is allocated to the brewing industry. Of raw materials for the manufacture of potable spirits about 6,000 tons will, it is anticipated, be imported during the current calendar year. I cannot accept the suggestion in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question. There is no ground for the unfavourable comparison between the control exercised over raw materials allocated to beer production in this war and in the last war. My Noble Friend considers the present restrictions on the output of beer and spirits sufficient in existing circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Lambeth Borough Council have asked to be relieved of their duties as food and drugs authority under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, in so far as national bread and national wheatmeal are concerned in consequence of the persistent refusal of the Ministry of Food to furnish a specification of national bread requiring a standard indicating maximum fibre content minimum vitamin B1 content and minimum oil content in the absence of which the council finds it impossible to state a legal case before a court; and whether he will amend the specification accordingly?

I am not aware of the circumstances mentioned by my hon. Friend. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what arrangements are in existence for testing whether the flour as it comes from the mill is in accord with the specification laid down in S.R. & O. 451, 1942; whether testing is carried out by officers independent of the milling industry; what punitive measures are taken when the flour is found not to comply with the specification; whether any definite proportion of the wheat germ is required to be incorporated in bread sold as national bread; and what is the average proportion of germ actually supplied?

With reference to the first and second parts of my hon. Friend's Question, detailed particulars of the weekly production of flour mills in the United Kingdom are checked by my Department to ensure that 85 per cent. extraction is being obtained in the milling of national flour. In addition, samples of national flour are drawn by mill inspectors employed by my Department on all visits to mills. These samples, which are drawn from bulk stocks, are sent to the laboratories of the Research Association of British Flour Millers at St. Albans which, for the period of the war, are being used by my Department, and where examination of flour and bread samples is made by one of the Ministry's scientific advisers. In so far as the third part of the Question is concerned, noncompliance with the specification would be an offence against the Defence (General) Regulations and as such punishable by imprisonment or fine or both. In the event of any infringement, the usual enforcement procedure would be applied. In so far as the fourth and fifth parts of the Question are concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the definition of national wheatmeal contained in S.R. & O. No. 451, 1942. The average proportion of germ in national bread cannot be stated precisely but it is the maximum having regard to the technical considerations involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the position in Rugby as regards summer fruit, vegetables, and other commodities is acute; that there are large queues in the town for many commodities; that many residents are having to travel to Leicester, Birmingham and Northampton, to obtain supplies; and Whether he can take steps to secure a more adequate distribution of food supplies in this town?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Wednesday, 15th July, to the Question by the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. J. Dugdale). I have made inquiries and have found no evidence that Rugby is not receiving a fair share, at the present time, of the main summer fruits, vegetables and other commodities. I have received complaints of a shortage of tomatoes in Rugby but am informed that the town has received its full proportion of available supplies together with fair quantities of gooseberries and cherries. Supplies of vegetables are reported to be adequate. I am aware that residents of Rugby have travelled to adjacent towns in search of additional food supplies, principally strawberries, but I cannot agree that it was necessary for them to make journeys in order to obtain essential foodstuffs.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give a priced list of articles which nursing sisters of the Army are compelled to purchase when required to be in possession of tropical kit; what additional outfit is reasonably necessary for tropical service and the current cost; what allowances are granted; and how much is paid when overseas postings are cancelled after purchase of appropriate kit?

The regulation tropical outfit in addition to ordinary uniform for which allowance is granted is as follows. The prices are average prices including Purchase Tax:—

		£	s.	d.
Overalls (eight)	…	7	6	8
1 set of buttons	…	0	6	9
1 Scarlet or Grey Cape	…	1	4	0
1 white felt hat	…	1	4	4
		£10	1	9
(in certain areas) Topee	…	1	17	0

White shoes and stockings costing 14s. 3d. and 4s. 5d. a pair respectively will also be required. The additional allowance for tropical kit is an initial grant of £10 for the first year and £5 a year thereafter; the initial grant is made after the Sister has been warned for embarkation, and no refund would be required in the event of embarkation being subsequently cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons resident in the British Embassy in, Egypt are of Italian birth; whether any letters passing between persons in the Embassy and Italy are subject to censorship; and whether the M.I. Department of the War Office have made representations to the Foreign Office on this matter?

No person resident in the British Embassy in Egypt is of pure Italian birth. Correspondence between a British subject and persons in Italy is forbidden except through authorised channels where it is subject to censorship. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the procedure of certain insurance companies in making charges for late payment of premiums in the case of clients serving in His Majesty's Forces; and whether, in view of the fact that many of these are due to sudden changes of location and mail difficulties inseparable from active service conditions, he will take steps to prevent the continuance of this practice?

I am aware that it is customary for life assurance offices to make a small charge when a premium is not paid within the period of grace allowed for payment. This period is usually sufficient to cover the circumstances mentioned in the Question, provided that the insured has made reasonable arrangements, beforehand to meet his recurring liabilities. Premiums are computed on the assumption that they will be paid as they fall due, and I have no power to require any modification of the conditions attaching to them; but I will examine any evidence of hardship in individual cases which my hon. and gallant Friend may care to submit to me.

asked the Minister of Health what are the terms of reference of the two medical surveyors who have commenced a survey of the area which includes North Wales; and if they have been particularly instructed to consider the position of Bangor as a hospital centre?

The terms of reference to the surveying officers whom I have appointed to survey the hospital services in the North-West are as follow:

"To survey the hospitals (other than Mental Hospitals and Mental Deficiency Institutions) in the geographical counties of Lancashire and Cheshire and in North Wales and other neighbouring areas which look to those counties for hospital treatment; and having regard to the information thus obtained, and to the general principles of post-war hospital policy laid down by the Minister of Health in the House of Commons on 9th October, 1941, to advise the Minister what areas would appropriately be served by a hospital system centred cm the teaching hospitals of Liverpool and Manchester, and what modifications or extensions of the existing hospital facilities would be necessary or desirable to give effect to that policy."

As my hon. Friend will see, the terms of reference make no express mention of Bangor.

asked the Postmaster-General when he hopes to be in a position to arrange for the despatch of airgraphs from this country to the East African Colonies?

The airgraph service is already available from this country to members of H.M. Forces in East Africa. I am not yet in a position to say when the service can be made available to civilians, but the provision of the apparatus which is required in East Africa for this purpose is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that no letters have been received from Air Force personnel detained at Stalag VIII B, Lamsdorf, Germany, since 12th April, 1942, although letters from Army personnel detained in the same camp are regularly received; and will he have inquiries made as to what has happened to our airmen at this camp?

The records maintaned by my Department show that mails are being regularly received from Stalag VIII B, but they do not distinguish between correspondence from Air Force and other personnel. A special examination of a mail received from this camp in the last few days disclosed that it included a number of letters from Air Force prisoners written in April and May. There is reason to believe that the airmen in this camp are being moved to another camp and this may explain why letters from particular prisoners have been delayed. If my hon. Friend will give me details of any particular cases brought to his notice in which correspondence from Air Force personnel has not been received for some time I will have inquiry made into them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the War Damage Commission will recognise for cost-of-works payment, expenditure hitherto included in a statement for valuation payment, but which now needs to be carried out on an emergency basis, owing to deterioration of the structure and the need for the replacement of glass and window frames?

Section 5 of the War Damage Act provides that in certain circumstances, the Commission may pay, in addition to a cost of works or a value payment, the proper cost of any works reasonably executed for temporarily meeting the circumstances created by the damage. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the case which he has in mind, I will ask the War Damage Commission whether the circumstances of that case are such as to enable the additional payment to be made.

asked the Prime Minister whether the terms of the Royal Warrant establishing the George Cross enables this decoration to be bestowed upon Allied countries or cities as, for instance, Sevastopol?

No, Sir.