asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that most medical schools in London refuse to accept women medical students, although many with good educational qualifications are anxious to enter; and whether, in view of the fact that students beginning now will not be medically qualified for several years, he will refuse to reserve any more men to commence the study of medicine in these schools unless they agree to take a reasonable proportion of suitable women?

I am aware that some medical schools in London do not accept women students. Whether such schools should accept them is a question for consideration by the Committee on Medical Schools, of which I understand my hon. Friend is a member. I must, however, take all relevant facts into consideration before I agree to reservation.

Does the Minister consider it is a good thing to allow young men to stay out of the Services merely to prevent women entering the medical profession?

I do not deal with reservations on that basis. No one regrets' more than I do the rigidity of the medical trade union rules.

Will my right hon. Friend go further into this matter and see whether his great influence cannot modify the rigidity of the trade union rules? As one trade union leader to another, he would speak on terms of equality.

I am quite convinced that the equality would be all right.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of person employed in and about coalmines who have been prosecuted by his Department in each of the several coalfields, giving the number of miners employed, or the percentage of prosecution to the number employed in each case?

The available records show that up to the end of June, 1942, the number of persons prosecuted for breaches of the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Orders was as follows:

Is the Minister aware of the suspicion that some of his officers are very much keener on prosecuting miners in some coalfield districts than in others, and will he look into this?

I do not accept that statement. I am quite sure my officials have acted strictly in accordance with the instructions and, in the main, in accordance with the advice of the responsible committees.

No managers have yet been prosecuted.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of foreign refugee dentists are at present unemployed; and whether in view of the shortage of man-power, he will cease to reserve further dental students from military service until these refugee dentists are absorbed, either in practice with temporary registration, or as students to obtain British qualifications?

On this subject generally I would refer my hon. Friend to the Reply given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health to the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. Harvey) on 14th July. The suggested reduction in the quota of British dental students would not be practicable since quotas of dental students are fixed with a view to maintaining the future supply of British dentists, and it would not be proper to reduce them to make room for students who may not in the ordinary course be practising in this country after the war. If my hon. Friend is aware of any difficulty experienced by aliens in obtaining admission as students I should be glad to look into the matter if he will send me particulars.

Is the Minister aware that the excuses which have been given in previous replies for the refusal to admit students are really untenable, and that there is a very strong case for admitting aliens to work in the schools? Will he not go further into the matter?

I will certainly look into the matter. I must be careful, however, that in the employment of aliens I do not set up a national conflict between the students, so that the British students feel prejudiced because I am finding room for aliens. The policy I have followed is to try and get harmony and to welcome these alien students into the schools with good feeling.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that factories in Ayrshire, formerly manufacturing lace but now devoting their resources to machining tank and aeroplane parts, are being told by employment exchange man- agers that all their mobile girls will be sent away from home to work in England; and whether he will issue orders without delay to prevent this transfer of Scottish girls against their will, interfering with war production in Scotland, and to relieve the bitter feeling caused both to the girls and their parents?

Women are not being withdrawn from munitions work in Ayrshire, but those who are released as the result of the concentration of certain sections of the lace industry will be considered for transfer in the ordinary way to areas where the shortage of labour is most acute.

Is the Minister aware that I have received many letters from mothers and girls as well as from employers? Is he aware that an employer has written to me saying:

"Scottish employers are simply wild that their urgent needs apparently should be ignored in this light fashion by Mr. Bevin, and a very awkward situation is being created which may be difficult to control"?

I am afraid I cannot reply to my hon. Friend's correspondence.

That is rather offhand.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mrs. Violet Stevens, 2a, Brighton Road, East Ham, E.6, the wife of a serving soldier, employed in the butchery department of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society at 53s. per week, has been requested by the local officers of his Department to work at the canteen of the Standard Telephones, at 35s. per week; and will he prevent Mrs. Stevens from being removed from a job of importance to one of no greater importance and her wages reduced by 18s. per week?

Mrs. Stevens has not yet left her employment with the Co-operative Society pending the provision of a substitute. She asked for canteen work in preference to work at a factory and the wages in the job proposed for her at the canteen of Standard Telephones included food.

Is the Minister aware that the woman who is to substitute Mrs. Stevens is the wife of a civilian? Why is it that the wife of this civilian was not sent to the canteen which would have avoided taking Mrs. Stevens from her work?

I understand that Mrs. Stevens wanted to do the canteen work.

In preference to the other, not because she wanted to leave her job. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again at the first available opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour how many girls working in the football pool offices are between 20 and 30 years of age; and how many have been withdrawn from these offices to do essential war work?

Precise figures are not available, but with very few exceptions all women between the ages of 20 and 30 have already been withdrawn from employment connected with football pools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in cases where the local authority, the chamber of trade and the representatives of employers and workers have agreed upon a scheme that provides facilities for men and women workers to be able to shop at convenient hours to the shift working, his department has refused to permit any alteration in the shop hours; and whether, under the altered conditions of these times, he will consider modifications of this Act in order that the war effort may be aided?

My Department has been giving close attention in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and other departments, such as the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Food, to this question of shopping facilities for war workers; and the experience hitherto acquired has shown that shopping difficulties can best be met by other arrangements than the extension of shop hours in the evening when women are often too tired to use such facilities. The policy is not to refuse to consider any question of adjusting shop hours, but in the first instance to consider whether local difficulties cannot be more effectively met by other methods, including arrangements for women employed in munition work to have reasonable time off for shopping at convenient hours.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the case of Luton where everybody agrees that the Home Office refused to agree?

I asked my hon. Friend for the area which he had in mind, but he preferred not to tell me. Now he has mentioned it I will look into it.

I beg pardon, but I was never asked.

My information was that my hon. Friend was asked, but if that is not the case I am sorry.

When my right hon. Friend is requested to look into the shopping difficulties of the workpeople, will he see that he does not impose onerous duties on shop workers?

That is one of the factors to be kept in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give particulars of the retail distributive trades sub-committee before which, in London, female persons are called for interview; by whom were the members nominated; is there any different composition for different employments; and the nature of discretion and function of such committee?

Retail distributive trades sub-committees, which are sub-committees of the local employment committees and have been set up at each employment exchange throughout the country, are composed of not more than three employers' and three workers' representatives from the retail distributive trades, other than food, under an independent chairman. The employers' representatives are drawn from a panel nominated by local traders' organizations and upon which the different sections of retail trade are represented, while the representatives of the workers are nominated by the workers' side of the Central Advisory Panel for the Retail Distributive Trades. The functions of these committees are to make recommendations about women claimed as pivotal workers whom they may, at their discretion, interview and to advise generally on local labour supply problems in the trades concerned.

Is there the same constitution of these committees for consideration of cases of all retail trades, and what is the number of persons necessary to form a quorum, or must all the members be present to reach a decision?

I cannot answer those questions without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour how, in view of the present policy of drafting labour to large firms of contractors at the expense of the smaller firms, he proposes to meet urgent post-war building requirements, seeing that many of the firms which would be necessary for that purpose are now being rendered inoperative through having their labour taken away and through not being allowed to quote for work urgently required by Government Departments?

The overriding consideration at the present time must be the speedy completion of works of special urgency and this must involve the transfer so far as necessary of labour from less essential work, irrespective of the size of the firms concerned. With regard to the use of the smaller builders, I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply given on 28th July by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning to the hon. and gallant Member for Kettering (Captain Profumo).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure that when women are called for interview either by his officers or by interviewing panels in Wales, the interview shall be conducted in the Welsh language where the persons concerned so desire?

So far as possible, arrangements are made for interviews at offices in Wales to be conducted in the Welsh language where the person concerned so desires. If my hon. Friend is aware of any particular case where difficulty has been experienced and will let me have details I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether Government Departments are exempt from the regulations that govern the working hours of juveniles; and what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that hours up to 60 a week are not worked?

The provisions in the Factories Act regulating the hours of young persons apply to Crown Establishments. It is primarily the responsibility of the Minister controlling the particular establishment to see that these provisions are observed. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply with regard to certain of his establishments. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I should be glad to have particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are several hundreds of women in West Willesden who are anxious to start work in the factories engaged on war work, but are unable to do so owing to the lack of accommodation for their young children; that the local authority has done its best to proceed with the necessary accommodation, but have not received the help and assistance in expediting same that should be given by his Department; and can he give a date when the necessary accommodation will be available?

The Ministry of Labour and National Service have recommended that there should be five day nurseries in Willesden. Two are already in operation, another has been approved, and schemes for four more are in preparation, making seven in all. I cannot accept the suggestion made in the second part of the Question. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Croydon (Mr. Willink) proposes to visit Willesden personally to discuss outstanding points and to secure an early completion of the rest of the programme.

asked the Minister of Health the relationship between the number of cases of acute primary and influenzal pneumonia notified, and the actual incidence of these conditions?

As there is no other reliable evidence of the incidence of pneumonia than that afforded by statutory notification I am unable to give the desired information.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a large number of cases which are not notified, and will he devise some machinery to ensure notification?

I will look into it, but I do not think there is any reason to believe that there is any substantive failure to notify pneumonia. Indeed medical opinion is that there is rather over—than under—notification, from the standpoint that other things than can strictly be described as pneumonia are so notified.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are more deaths recorded than notifications?

Is it not time to overhaul this question of notifiable diseases altogether?

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Health the number of acute, primary and influenzal pneumonia cases notified each year from 1932 to 1941, inclusive, together with the number of deaths from these conditions?

As the answer involves tabular statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has been a fall in the death-rate from acute pneumonia since the introduction of chemotherapy in 1938, in view of the known reduction in the mortality rate in controlled series of cases from, approximately, 30 per cent. to 10 per cent.?

I am advised that, although one drug in particular used in chemotherapy has lowered the fatality rate in controlled series of cases and proved its value in certain kinds of pneumococcal infection, the complications of pneumonia are such that it would not be justifiable as yet to look for any substantial effect on mortality from the disease in all its forms.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is the policy of the Central Midwives Board to require pupil midwives, during the second period of their training, to reside in the homes of district teacher midwives and to permit a limited number of pupils only to reside during this part of their training in an institution; that, as a result, only four pupil midwives can now be trained in the maternity service maintained by the Ilford Borough Council; and whether, in view of the need for training a sufficient number of midwives and the difficulty of arranging for pupils to reside with district teachers, especially under war-time conditions, he will take steps to secure some modification of the present policy?

I am aware that the policy of the Central Midwives Board is to require pupil midwives to live with their district teacher during a part of their second period of training, so that they may receive the full value of the domiciliary training. The shortage of practising midwives is not due to a shortage of pupils, but to the failure of many qualified midwives to practise. I do not, therefore, think it is necessary to ask the Central Midwives Board to modify their policy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Ilford Borough Council would be able to train a very much greater number of pupil midwives if they were permitted to reside in the institution instead of with the district teachers?

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to deal with the waiting list of patients for admission to tubercular hospitals and sanatoria in Wales?

I have under immediate consideration the possibility of releasing from the Emergency Hospital Scheme a further 200 beds for tuberculosis cases in Wales.

When is accommodation likely to be released? There is very grave urgency in the matter.

I am aware of that, and that is why I made the answer that I did.

asked the Minister of Health what public recognition is given to osteopaths; whether they are entitled to any of the rights accorded to the medical profession; and whether, in the event of their being liable to service, any use is made of their healing ability?

In view of the recommendations in the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Osteopaths Registration and Regulation Bill of 1935, Parliament has not thought fit to confer any official recognition on osteopaths or to accord them any of the rights specially accorded to registered medical practitioners. I understand that the Services do not make use of the special manipulative technique of osteopaths.

Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that osteopathy has any particular use in medicine or not?

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the Select Committee's Report, which is very interesting, and he will see that the broad reason why they recommended against the Bill was that osteopaths have not a common body of doctrine.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the real reason is that the medical profession objected?

I wonder whether the hon. Member has read the Report.

I have.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that patients discharged from tuberculosis sanatoria, but still needing special treatment, are compelled to seek employment through financial circumstances and are therefore unable to benefit from that treatment; and whether any steps will be taken to enable them to continue convalescence by supplementary grants from the Assistance Board or otherwise?

I do not doubt that such circumstances as my hon. Friend refers to may occasionally arise. The economic position of tuberculosis persons is one of the aspects of the tuberculosis problem Which is engaging my close attention at the moment.

When is it likely that action will be taken?

I expect a report from the Medical Research Council any day now, and it is in connection with that that I am making my own investigations.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the issue of a second bluette combination suit to the personnel of first-aid posts for use when the present only suit is being washed?

I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who agrees with me that in the existing supply situation male members of the first-aid post service should, in common with members of other Civil Defence services, draw on the reserve of bluette overalls which local authorities have been authorised to hold for temporary issue when uniforms are being repaired or cleaned.

Have first-aid post personnel been told of this concession?

I presume so, but if not I will see that it is done.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the reason for the Regulation which lays it down that fire guards unable to see without spectacles must carry their gas-masks when on duty, in view of the fact that it is not proposed to issue such men with civilian duty respirators?

I do not know to what Regulation about fire guards my hon. Friend refers. It is recognised that it would be difficult for persons who are incapacitated without spectacles to continue to do active work in a civilian respirator, but I am afraid that with present shortage of rubber it is not possible to authorise the issue of civilian duty respirators to fire guards.

As soon as it is possible to release a number of civilian duty respirators, will those men who cannot see without glasses be considered?

I will consider that, but the supply position is difficult, especially in the element of rubber. Moreover, we are giving assistance on a fairly large scale to other parts of the Empire.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a statement from the Gloucestershire Emergency Committee, which has been sent to him, describing the effect on the rescue service of the transference from their present employers of building operatives; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I have read the statement sent to me by my hon. Friend. In reply to the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 23rd July to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins).

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he takes away these men, who alone can do this work, it will be impossible to replace them by volunteers and that, therefore, his reply does not meet the position?

I am not sure about that. I think that my hon. Friend is assuming that only building trade workers can do rescue work, but we have trained many others for rescue work and they have become quite efficient.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the recent raising of the ban on the Communist Party in India, he will now reconsider the question of removing the ban on the publication of the "Daily Worker" in this country?

I am not unaware of the action recently taken in India, but I do not think that that action is a conclusive argument for removing the ban on the publication of the "Daily Worker" in this country.

In view of the fact that the ban on the Communist party's newspapers in India has also been lifted, does not my right hon. Friend think it would be consistent to deprive the "Daily Worker" of the benefits of martydom and give it one more chance?

It does not follow that what is expedient in India is expedient in Great Britain. I must consider the matter on its merits as affecting this country.

asked the Home Secretary why it was found necessary to remove four women, detained under Regulation 18B, at three hours' notice from Holloway gaol to Aylesbury; why com- munication with their legal advisers was refused them; whether, in view of the fact that conditions of detention are supposed to be preventive and not punitive, he will give an assurance that in future notice of at least a week will be given before any such change is made; and whether, should any of the four persons concerned so wish, he will afford them an opportunity of returning to Holloway gaol?

The need for removing these women at short notice arose from special circumstances which are not likely to recur. In the short interval there was not time to arrange for them to get in touch with their solicitors, but they were told that they could communicate with them after their arrival at Aylesbury. While the responsibility for deciding in what establishment a person is to be detained must rest with the Home Secretary and not with the persons detained, I fully recognise the desirability of giving to such persons information some time beforehand of any decision to transfer them; and though I cannot guarantee that it will always be practicable to give a week's notice I can give an assurance that it will be the policy, so far as circumstances may permit, to give the information some days beforehand and to do everything possible to mitigate any inconvenience or any sense of grievance when transfers have to be arranged.

Whilst I understand the special circumstances, does not my right hon. Friend really think it most unreasonable even in this case to uproot these people at such short notice, having regard to the fact that two of them were over 60?

I hope that my hon. Friend will not, even by inference, associate himself with the unmannerly conduct of these ladies at the time.

My question has to do with the treatment of these people. It is a question not of what they did but what the Home Office did. Surely it was most unreasonable, and if the right hon. Gentleman does not think so I am afraid that he goes down very much in my estimation.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the interned refugees who were deported to Australia in the Steamship "Dunera," two years ago, have been returned to this country or released in Australia; how many are still in internment; and whether any steps have been taken to improve the situation of the 200 Jewish refugees who have been prevented from returning to this country in consequence of recent restrictions debarring them from passing through the Panama Canal?

Every effort was made both in this country and by my representative in Australia to overcome the obstacles to the return of approved internees from Australia after the Panama Canal route was closed to them, and I am glad to say that some 360 men are now on their way back. Separate figures for refugees are not available, but of the German internees who were transferred to Australia ovr 1,100, or approximately one half, have returned or are en route to the United Kingdom. According to the last report received from Australia, nearly 500 internees had been released in the Commonwealth and 119 had emigrated to other countries. There are, therefore, now rather less than 600 United Kingdom internees of German nationality in the camps in Australia; some of these are not willing to undertake the voyage back to the United Kingdom, although their release on departure from Australia has been authorised.

asked the Home Secretary what progress has been made in arranging for part-time war work for firemen and Civil Defence workers who are only standing by for many hours each day and would gladly undertake some munition or other work to assist the war effort; what is the total number of full-time firemen and Civil Defence workers, respectively; and how many have so far been released for urgently needed munition work?

asked the Home Secretary how many men and women in full-time employment on Civil Defence have been released for other work of national importance since the issue of the Ministry's circular to local authorities in April, 1942; how many men of the National Fire Service have been similarly released; and how many men and women have been released for industry on the rota system?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement which I made on this subject during the course of the Debate last Thursday. I deprecate the publication of figures giving the strength of Civil Defence services but considerable numbers have been, and are being, released for other vital work.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the men themselves are very anxious to do useful but simple munition work in their spare time instead of playing darts or games of that kind, which are as irksome to them as they are not useful to the public?

It would be a mistake if my hon. Friend assumed that the Fire Service were not doing a good job and do not have a good deal of active work to do in the course of their duty hours. On the other point I am entirely sympathetic, as I made clear in the Debate last Thursday, but it must be arranged by the appropriate authority.

Will the right hon. Gentleman stop them from doing useless drill?

I am not aware that they are doing useless drill. Drill is necessary for the efficiency of the Fire Service.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the effectiveness of paint for the purposes of war camouflage is dependent upon the elimination of light and shade effects by countershading; and the, breaking up of continuity of surface and outline by large masses of pigment contrasting strongly in tone such as white and mat-black; whether he is aware that objects of military importance are still being painted in complete disregard of these principles; and whether he will see that these principles are put into effect?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the principle of countershading to which he refers is well understood by those responsible for camouflage design in all Departments and is used by them wherever applicable. It is only one of the factors which must be considered in determining the most effective use of paint for camouflage purposes.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to conform to the judgment of Mr. Justice Humphreys, on, 24th May, 1941, wherein it was stated that any person detained under Regulation 18B was entitled to know at the outset the precise grounds for his detention?

In the case in question a clerical mistake had been made in the copy of the Order of Detention which had been served on the suspect, and it was this mistake which prompted the learned Judge's observations. As was made clear in the subsequent legal proceedings, the effect of the judgment is that a person detained under Defence Regulation 18B is entitled at the outset to be informed precisely, in the sense of accurately, of the grounds stated in the Order for his detention. I made a full statement to the House about the case on 10th June, 1941, and said I had taken steps to ensure that in future the documents issued after an Order of Detention has been made shall be carefully checked.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the practice of merely telling people that at one time they belonged to an organisation which has been banned, as precise grounds, in the sense of the term in which the learned Judge used the words?

My hon. Friend is on another point, which has nothing to do with the one in the Question.

It is the whole point.

(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary when his proposals for making fire watching for women compulsory will be announced, and whether he will give an assurance that no announcement will be made during the Parliamentary Recess?

In the course of my speech last Thursday I indicated that this question was under consideration. I should have liked to be able to make an announcement to the House, but consultations, though in an advanced stage, are not quite complete. I hope to be in a position to announce a decision very shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, though strongly supporting any measure which enables women to render service, I object to women being compelled to fire watch unless they are equally compensated with men for injuries received in such service, and further, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether I am right in believing that if he brings in these regulations during the Parliamentary Recess they will become the law of the land, although they affect millions of women, without this House having any power whatever to assent to or dissent from the Regulations?

On the first point raised by my hon. Friend, the compensation provisions will be the same as for women in other branches of the Civil Defence services.

Yes, but not the same as for men.

Any question on that should be addressed to the Minister of Pensions, as it is not my Departmental responsibility. With regard to the second point, there has been in existence for a long time a Defence Regulation, which could, of course, have been challenged. Under it this power was granted to me, and it was always known that it was a possibility; the power I am exercising is under a Defence Regulation which was in the form of an Order in Council.

If the right hon. Gentleman is so certain that he is doing the right thing, will he make no announcement before Parliament reassembles?

I am afraid the war goes on even though the House is not sitting, and there is a certain liveliness of enemy attack which my hon. Friend cannot ask me to ignore.

Apart from the question of compensation, will the right hon. Gentleman state that he will not expect young women to go into the City and hang around watching business premises? Women do not object to watching in a home area, but will he be very careful in drafting regulations which would require young women who work all day in the City to go back into the City, in blitzes and in the hours of darkness, to watch banks and insurance offices?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that point will not be overlooked. I think she will find, if this is done—I have not yet decided to do it—that reasonable provisions of that kind will be made. I can assure the House that with all the experience I have had of fire watching, I shall never be other than careful in this matter.

Am I right in believing that on an ordinary day I could have raised this matter under Regulation 8, but that as we are already on the Adjournment that will be impossible, and might I therefore ask that you will allow me, Mr. Speaker, to catch your eye at an early date?

We will wait and see how we get on with other questions.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the allocation of shipping priorities in respect of both exports and imports to and from overseas?

The main lines of our import programme are determined by the War Cabinet. Within this programme, responsibility is divided between the Minister of Production, who deals with all imports other than food, and the Minister of Food. Subject to the broad policy laid down by His Majesty's Government, responsibility for commercial exports from this country rests with the President of the Board of Trade.

In view of the fact that the Minister of Production is a recent appointment, upon which member of the Cabinet did this duty devolve before the establishment of that office?

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to give personal attention to an important aspect of this problem, namely, the export of goods from this country in ships which are otherwise carrying ballast?—Did he see the statement made at the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Sir G. Gibson) which appeared in "The Times," that a ship proceeding on the outward and homeward voyages carried 3,000 tons of ballast when it could have carried goods?

I will look into that.

May I ask the Deputy Prime Minister, who has been a member of the War Cabinet from the start, why he cannot give the information for which I have asked about the work of one of his colleagues? Is there any reason in the public interest why this should not be disclosed?

I suggest to my hon. and gallant Friend that if he wants to ask a historical Question he should put it on the Paper.

This is a definite refusal to answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a cup and saucer are being sold in the market at 1s. 10d., when the maximum price for best quality Grade A is 1s. plus 2d. Purchase Tax; and what action does he intend to take in the matter?

In such cases complaint should be made to the local Price Regulation Committee, but if my hon. Friend will send full details to me, I will have an investigation made.

asked the resident of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in any further concentration of retail trade, he will provide that the deciding factor shall be the public convenience and the releasing of labour for essential work rather than the financial weakness of any unit; and

My right hon. Friend has at present nothing to add to the full statement which he made in the House on 23rd July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that a list of all traders compulsorily put out of business will be kept with a view to their receiving Government help to reopen after the war?

Yes, Sir; a list of manufacturers whose factories have been closed under the concentration of production policy is being kept by the Board of Trade, in accordance with the undertaking given in paragraph 3 of the Explanatory Memorandum on the Concentration of Production. A record is also kept of all premises requisitioned through the Control of Factory and Storage Premises, whether or not the requisitioning has resulted in the closing of the business concerned.

Is not that answer most satisfactory?

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the suggestions put forward for post-war planned economy by traders who, for the most part, are wishful to conserve against all newcomers both existing and potential business, what steps are taken by his Department to safeguard the continued existence of free opportunity for would-be traders and especially ex-service men?

My hon. Friend will realise that traders closed down by the war have a claim to consideration which cannot be overlooked, but the problem of new entrants into industry and trade after the war is not being lost sight of.

Would it not be an appalling situation if people coming back from the war were denied a free opportunity to start in business, and if the right to trade were controlled by a bureaucracy?

The claims of people coming out of the Army must undoubtedly, and will, be considered, but that does not in any way reduce the claim of those who are being put out of business to-day as a direct consequence of war conditions.

But is there not an idea about of preventing people from entering into business again without sanction from a bureaucracy?

There is no such idea, so far as I know, in the mind of my right hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make inquiries into the case of a man living at Beamish, County Durham, whose name has been given to him, and who, after suffering damage to his household effects through enemy action, has been asked by the War Damage Commission to sign a form stating that the amount payable is £41 12s., and that he is prepared to accept this sum in satisfaction of his claim; and, as no attempt was made to enter into a reasonable settlement with the householder when visited by the valuer and no opportunity is afforded on the form for the claimant to express disagreement with the amount proposed as final settlement, what remedy can be afforded in this case?

My right hon. Friend has called for a full report on the case referred to by my hon. Friend, and will communicate with him as soon as his inquiries are completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the general practice of those who administer the War Damage Act appears to be to offer as final settlement not more than one-third of the amount claimed, as though this were a principle of law; and whether he will take steps to have a proper valuation agreed to between the valuer and the householder, or his representative?

No, Sir. The general practice is not as suggested in the Question. The Inland Revenue valuers who assess claims for damage to private chattels do so on the basis of the diminution in the value of the goods at the time of the damage, having regard to their condition prior to the damage and to the price at which such goods could then be bought; and they are expressly instructed to make every effort to settle claims on broad lines by agreement with claimants. Where the local valuer cannot arrive at such an agreed settlement, the case is referred to higher authority.

Does my hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that there is a universal impression that it does not matter how much people value their damage at, they are only offered one-third at the most, and that that is the reason why I put the previous Question down, because my experience is that there is no attempt to argue about the matter at all, but that it is just a question of making an offer?

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's statements at all; I believe they are quite contrary to the facts.