asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the establishment of his regional offices, excluding clerical and messenger grades, and the respective salaries of the appointments under the director in each office; and whether there is to be uniformity in each region?

As the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks is detailed and lengthy, I propose, with his consent, to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will it include an estimate of the sum total of the annual cost?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give any information as to increases of coal output since the recent rise in miners' wages?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give the figures of output of coal per miner per week during the first six months of the present year; and the corresponding figure for the period subsequent to the coming into operation of the Greene award?

The incidence of the holiday season, which has only just concluded, together with other variable factors, make it impracticable, as yet, to draw any definite conclusion as to the effect of the award on output. But I am bound to say that the evidence available to date is not at all reassuring.

In view of the paramount importance of increasing the coal output, would my right hon. and gallant Friend consider renewing the application made by his predecessor for the return of miners from the Army?

If the evidence is so far not reassuring, can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give any indication as to the causes of the trouble and whether it is not due to the fact that there are not sufficient men available for the purpose of producing coal?

The actual number of men available at the moment is slightly in excess of what it was last year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the estimated amount of petrol saved up to the 22nd August, 1942, by reason of the stoppage of basic allowances and substantial reductions in supplementary grants of petrol; the amount of lubricant oil saved; the amount of coal saved since the new Order was instituted; and the increase of coal from the pits for the last three months?

I am advised that it would be contrary to the public interest to give the figures relating to petrol and lubricating oil. As regards coal, the desired figures of consumption are not available. So far as production is concerned, I would refer by hon. Friend to the reply I have given to a Question by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the climate of certain districts near the East Coast is considerably more rigorous than that of other districts which receive the same or a greater allowance of fuel under the recently announced scheme; and whether he will revise his strictly horizontal classification of counties?

It is true that, taking the evidence afforded by isotherms alone, some of the coldest parts of Great Britain in winter are on, or near, the East Coast. But if the hon. Member is suggesting that districts on the East Coast should for this reason be offered a more generous fuel economy target than more westerly districts of the same latitude, I fear that I cannot accept his suggestion. The ordinary dry bulb thermometer is not an adequate measure of climate as it affects human-beings. The rawness of the air in the North and the humidity of the air in the West must also be taken into account. For this and other reasons, the domestic consumption of fuel in fact increases as one goes northwards, and, taking all the relevant considerations into account, I am satisfied that the boundaries of the three zones are the most suitable that can be reasonably devised.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that charts in the Oxford Advanced Atlas indicate that the county of Essex in particular is in an exceptionally unfavourable position under his scheme as regards dampness as well as coldness; and will he bear in mind that assuming this voluntary scheme has any meaning at all—

The hon. Member appears to be making a speech.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will recognise the undesirability of suggesting, without reservation, that families should all take their meals in the kitchen and use only one other living room in the house; and whether, in reconsidering the King-Hall proposals, he will consult women with some experience of how houses and homes are run and can be run?

The actual words used by my hon. and gallant Friend were:

"A substantial economy of fuel in space heating could be achieved if all meals were taken in the kitchen, and one or both of the living rooms not used unless they could be used without fires."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, why he is fixing the same voluntary ration of coal, gas and electricity for households consisting entirely of persons who are normally away from home all day and have most of their meals out, as for elderly or invalid people who have to have all their meals at home and need warmth at home all day in winter?

The domestic fuel targets put forward under the fuel economy scheme indicate the general standards to be aimed at by the average household. It is obviously impracticable to prescribe targets for special cases, of the type to which the hon. Member refers, and I must leave it to the discretion of households containing invalid or aged persons to economise in the use of fuels to the greatest possible extent which is practicable in the circumstances.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that, unless more is done to adjust voluntary rations to the actual and varying needs, some people will be discouraged by finding their target quite out of their reach whereas for others the target will mean no sacrifice at all?

It is a voluntary appeal, and it must be left to people who are doing their best to meet the situation to decide what is proper in the circumstances.

Cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman be warned in time that a voluntary appeal can never prove successful?

I am afraid I cannot accept that altogether, because I have had experience in the past of very successful voluntary appeals, particularly in the last war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of miners who have been allowed to return to the mines from the Forces; and whether he will make it known under what conditions they will be recalled?

Approximately 9,100 men released from the Army and the Royal Air Force under the special arrangement for the return of ex-miners have started work in coal mines. The men who were released from the Army will remain in the industry indefinitely and the period of release granted to men from the Royal Air Force has been extended to 30th June, 1943. All collieries have been informed of these arrangements.

Can the number be given of face workers in the 9,000 returned from the Services?

Are any further releases taking place from the Armed Forces at present?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been drawn to a recent assertion made by the North-Western Regional Controller of Fuel and Power that the Government proposed to deal with absenteeism among miners by inflicting harsher and more immediate punishment; and why, in view of the fact that prosecutions, fines and imprisonment of miners at the instance of the Minister of Labour have failed to secure an increase of production, he has sanctioned this policy?

I have seen some Press reports of the statement referred to, but I can find nothing in them to justify the expressions used by the hon. Member. The Regional Controller informs me that he made it clear, in the course of his statement, that persuasion will be used to the maximum extent, and that there is no intention of using more drastic means unless persuasion proves hopeless. As proposed in paragraph 18 of the White Paper on Coal the Essential Work (Coal Mining Industry) Order, 1942, is being amended. Absence from work without reasonable excuse will in future be a direct offence under Regulation 58a of the Defence (General) Regulations. If, after full inquiries by an Investigation Officer of my Department, it is clear that any person has been absent from work without reasonable excuse and has not proved amenable to persuasion, a recommendation will be made to the National Service Officer that proceedings should be taken against him.

Does the right hon. and. gallant Gentleman deny the assumption in the Question that the Fuel Controller made this statement, and will he bear in mind the suggestion that the miners are the last people in the world to increase production as the result of threatening them with harsh treatment?

I am satisfied that the statement of the Controller does not warrant the expression used by the hon. Gentleman. It is not a question of harsh treatment at all; it is a question of persuading a man that it is his duty not to absent himself without reason. Only if persuasion fails will other steps be taken.

Is no consideration given to the fact that in many cases sections of men are laid off by the employers and that there is never any mention of any kind of treatment directed towards the employers?

I assure the hon. Member that under the existing arrangement that cannot happen.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, whether he will give figures showing the increase, or decrease, of absenteeism in miners during the week after the retrospective payment under the Greene award was made and in all subsequent weeks?

The weeks immediately preceding and following that in which the retrospective payment was made were at the height of the holiday season, when unfortunately absenteeism is usually at a high rate among miners not actually on holiday. It it difficult, therefore, to discover any relation between absenteeism figures and the making of the payment. The absenteeism figures for the five weeks preceding the making of the award itself and for a similar period following it were 10.47 and 9.74 per cent. respectively; while the figure relating to shifts worked per man in these periods rose from 5.19 to 5.36, and that relating to shifts lost fell from 6 of a shift to 58.

Has there been a change in policy? Some weeks ago information with regard to absenteeism was denied on grounds of security. Is there now a change of policy?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what contractor is employed by him to unload and stack coal at the Solihull reserve dump; what previous experience this contractor has had; and what is the method of remuneration.

Coal is being stacked at the Solihull site by Messrs. Winston Bros. Ltd., contractors, of 197, Bristol Road, Birmingham, 5, under a contract with my Ministry which provides for the, payment of a fixed rate per ton stacked, with other provisions covering transport and maintenance of the mechanical plant used. The contractor, who is experienced in mechanical handling of this nature, was engaged after exhaustive inquiries had failed to secure the services of a coal merchant to handle the necessary tonnage at a comparable price.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that not less than a sixth of the railway wagons which have been unloaded at the Solihull dump have been damaged by this contractor?

I have no information of that at all, but I have knowledge that it was not possible to get any coal merchant to undertake the work at anything like the price at which this contractor accepted it.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that this unloading is being done in an economical manner?

I am satisfied that the dump is being filled.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend made inquiries as to the methods employed?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the material reduction of consumption reported by the North Eastern Electric Supply Company, of Newcastle, in 22 areas in different parts of the country; and what is the estimated reduction in the country generally?

I have seen the statement in the Press to which my hon. Friend refers, and which related to the June quarter. I am not at present in a position to give the estimate asked for in the second part of the Question, but I hope to have some information available shortly for the country generally.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many strikes are now in operation, how many men are involved; what is the daily loss of coal in each of the pits concerned; and how man) man-hours have been lost since the increased wage award was granted this year?

I am glad to tell the House that, according to the latest available information, there is no stoppage of work through disputes in any part of the. coalfield. Since payment began under the recent wage award the total man-days lost owing to disputes is approximately 33,800, or rather, less than 5,000 tons a week. Figures of man-hours lost are not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many working days have been lost in the mines of Great Britain during August, 1942, by strikes; and what is the approximate tonnage of coal represented by such stop pages?

The total man-days lost through disputes in the month of August were 25,443, representing a total loss of approximately 24,600 tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken to establish a medical service in the several regions under the reorganisation scheme; and whether he will cause an investigation into the effect of diet deficiencies, particularly deficiency of fats, upon the health of coalminers?

Officers of my Department in association with those of the other Departments concerned, are working out a scheme for a mines medical service, and I hope to be able to announce my proposals shortly. The general question of diet is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, but as regards coalminers in particular the question of food in relation to the colliery canteens has been considered by the Miners' Welfare Commission in association with the Ministry of Food and in consultation with high medical authorities; and I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Commission's notice.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in some areas the doctors are concerned about dermatitis which they think is due to deficiency of fat in the diet, and will he bear in mind that unless miners are given adequate food the output is bound to go down?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the continued waste of electricity resulting from agreements which provide for minimum charges; and whether some arrangements can be made whereby any difference between the charge for electricity actually consumed and the minimum charge will be shared equally by the supplying company and the consumer whose patriotism has resulted in the consumption being less than the minimum?

I am aware of a considerable volume of complaint from consumers who, having reduced their consumption, find themselves called on to pay a minimum charge. I have been giving this matter careful consideration, in consultation with the industry, and hope to make an announcement on the subject very shortly.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the arrangement referred to in the Question is designed to encourage the consumption of electricity and that its continuance now means that the much needed economy in consumption does not result in an economy to the consumer, as is the case in every other commodity?

I am aware of that, but there are great difficulties attached to this question, particularly as these charges are often statutory and are made in order to pay for installations and so forth, but I hope shortly to come to a solution.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, under what conditions the use of coal-gas is permitted as a propellant of private and commercial vehicles and whether any control is exercised over the price which may be charged for coal-gas used for this purpose?

The use of coal-gas as a propellant for vehicles has been made subject to licence, in order to conserve fuel and materials. The licences, which are issued by Regional Transport Commissioners of the Ministry of War Transport, will only be issued to vehicles engaged on essential work. The price of gas supplied to vehicles should not exceed that charged to ordinary domestic consumers, which is subject to the control imposed by the enactments relating to the particular undertaking concerned; but a charge would no doubt be made for compression, and this is not subject to control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any further statement to make regarding furniture prices and, in particular, as to the effect of the Order signed by him on 3rd August?

This Order came into force on 17th August last, and I am satisfied, from the reports submitted by the local price regulation committees that it has resulted in a reduction in furniture prices generally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when, and under what conditions, it is proposed to resume the issue of clothing coupons in place of those accidentally lost or destroyed?

Application for the replacement of lost or destroyed clothing coupons should at present be made direct to the Board of Trade. On and after 21st September, application forms will be available at any Money Order Post Office, Citizen's Advice Bureau or Women's Voluntary Service Centre. Replacement of coupons imposes, in most cases, an additional strain on the limited clothing supplies available. Coupons will only be replaced, therefore, where loss is due to causes outside the owner's control, such as enemy action or burglary, or where exceptional need for clothing is proved.

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider that proposal in view of the long delays which must ensue owing to inquiries between the Board of Trade and local authorities to see whether the statements made by applicants are true?

I have done all I can to speed up the procedure, and I shall be glad to do anything further to that end, but we have had a number of claims for lost coupons which are fraudulent, and we must guard the clothing supplies of the country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that people whose coupons have been stolen through no fault of their own wrote to the Board of Trade weeks ago and cannot get any reply?

We have had a large number of claims, and not all of them are, I am afraid, genuine on investigation, but if my hon. Friend will mention any cases to me I will do my utmost to speed them up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of prosecutions undertaken by price regulation committees and the number in which convictions were secured; and whether he will give the figures for each price regulation committee?

The total number of prosecutions undertaken by price regulation committees since they were set up at the end of 1939 to 31st July, 1942, was 352. Convictions were secured in 314 of these cases. As the second part of the Question involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a statement made by the chairman of the North Midland Price Regulation Committee regarding the work of price regulation committees throughout the country; and whether this statement represents the view of his Department?

My attention has been called to an article which appeared recently in a Sunday newspaper. I greatly appreciate the work that is being done by the North Midland Price Regulation Committee, but all these committees are admirably performing their most useful functions, and it would be invidious for me to single out one more than another for special praise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a list is being kept of all businesses compulsorily closed or only of factories, in the narrow sense?

Lists are kept in my Department of factories closed under concentration and also of all premises requisitioned by other Departments under the authority of the Board of Trade.

Do the Government realise the terrible hardships to many individuals caused, by this policy?

Has my right hon. Friend any knowledge of a large number of small shopkeepers being forced out of business as a result of economic causes and difficulties of trading?

No small shops are compulsorily closed. That question does not strictly arise on my hon. Friend's Question, which I have answered as it appears on the Paper, and perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will await my answer to a later Question on retail trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the discouragement felt by girls throughout the country who joined the Girls' Training Corps and now find that, although eight months have passed since it was approved by the Government as the official organisation for providing pre-service training for girls, uniform is still not obtainable for it; and whether, if he cannot release new material for this purpose, he will make women's reconditioned service uniform available to the corps in order to avoid further delay and disappointment?

This matter has been discussed with representatives of the National Association of Girls' Training Corps. There should be no difficulty in obtaining supplies of this clothing through ordinary trade channels, and I have suggested that the Association should make arrangements for its manufacture through the Trade Associations concerned. I regret that supplies of suitable reconditioned Service uniforms are not coming forward in sufficient quantities to meet essential industrial and agricultural needs, and they cannot therefore be made available to the Girls' Training Corps. I have agreed, however, to the issue of 30,000 reconditioned A.T.S. forage caps.

Will the materials for the uniforms issued be coupon-free?

That is a different question. It was not raised by the Answer to the original Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the opposition on the part of wage-earners to the order which prohibits poundage in connection with check trading, he will withdraw this order so as to avoid the hardship which otherwise arises to both sides in check trading transactions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the growing concern felt by many over the proposed prohibition of check trading, and the fact that many large clothing and provident societies in different parts of the country could not carry on their work under any other system; and will he consider his decision?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the extent to which the check poundage system is utilised for the purchase of clothing and other necessaries by the working classes and of the anxiety felt at the suggested abolition or modification thereof; and whether, in the interests of such purchasers, he will ensure that there shall be no interference with a method of purchase which is of assistance to the industrial community?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has reconsidered his decision to abolish all charges of poundage on check trading companies in view of the great hardship this will cause to a large number of people?

While I have received a large amount of correspondence on this subject, I have seen few signs of spontaneous opposition on the part of wage-earners to the prohibition of poundage, and I see no reason for altering my decision, which was arrived at after the most careful consideration, and does not imply the prohibition of check trading, but only of additional charges to purchasers over and above the maximum prices now fixed.

Is it not a fact that the bulk of the correspondence has come from wage-earners who like this system of trading, and are angry over the action proposed?

I am anxious to be perfectly frank with the House about this matter. It is a difficult question. There has been considerable agitation about it, instigated wholly by the check traders. There are a large number of other forms of credit trading available to persons of small means—there are the credit given by retail shops, direct credit traders who themselves deliver goods through travellers to the purchasers, which the check traders do not, clothing clubs of many kinds run by shops and co-operative societies, and mail order and other agencies. All these have accepted my Order and accepted the new situation under which all credit charges, all organiser's commissions, and the like, must be included within the margins allowed in the Order. I could only agree to make a special concession to check traders if it could be shown on the one hand that they were performing a specially valuable social function which would otherwise not be performed, and, secondly if it were equitable between different sections of credit traders, and neither of these conditions can be satisfied.

In view of the fact that I know of 30,000 persons whose standard of living will be very seriously affected, will my right hon. Friend receive a Parliamentary deputation on the subject from Members of all parties who are interested in this question?

I am not sure that they would speak with one voice if I were to receive them. I have gone into this matter exceedingly carefully. Two deputations from the check traders have been received by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, who has also gone into the matter carefully, and my officials have received a number of representations, and I think I really do know all the facts, and I do not feel there would be any advantage in my receiving any further' deputation on the subject, but, naturally, I am always very glad to see hon. Members of this House who wish to consult me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the man-power estimated to be released on 1st October for the war effort as a consequence of the Control Order issued by him, operating on this date, which prohibits the poundage charge by check trading companies in respect of the purchase of utility clothing and footwear?

I regret that no close estimate can be made, since it is impossible to foresee to what extent the prohibition of poundage charges will affect the activities of the check trading companies. Nor is it known exactly how many persons they now employ. But the number is certainly considerable and I am informed that one company alone still has over 9,000 employees. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour with a view to ensuring that all persons released as a result of this measure are directed to essential war service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman that in the case of one of the leading companies one-third of the agents are engaged only in their spare time and are already otherwise fully employed on war work, and therefore they cannot be reckoned as not making a contribution to the national effort, and that the remaining two-thirds consist of military rejects and males of 60 to 70 years of age?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of compensation schemes in operation under the concentration of industry; and the precise basis on which these are arrived at?

Twenty compensation schemes covering whole industries or large sections of industries have been approved. These vary widely in character. Usually there is a central fund raised by levy on the machine-capacity or the turnover of the nucleus firms, and from this fund the closing firms draw compensation. This compensation has to be applied first to the care and maintenance of the plant and machinery of the closed firms. For the rest of the concentrated industries numbering 36, there are no central compensation schemes, and the normal practice is for the nucleus firm to produce goods at cost for the closing firm which continues as a selling organisation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his decison not to allow the next batch of clothing coupons to be used before October, although all parents of children returning to boarding schools have to equip them with winter clothing by the third week in September, is leaving parents with no option but to have clothes reserved for them at shops and posted to school as soon as the coupons become valid, causing extra trouble, book-keeping and postal work; whether he will antedate the validity of coupons to prevent this; and whether he will have regard to school terms when the time comes to fix coupon dates for 1943–44?

The difficulty referred to by my hon. Friend arises chiefly in the case of the older children who pay the full coupon rates, and I have accordingly arranged for the additional coupons to which they are entitled to be available as from 31st August. The facilities at many schools for exchanging outgrown clothes will also be helpful. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, the dates at which the various groups of coupons become valid must be determined by supply considerations, in view of which I cannot see my way to antedate the validity of the brown coupons. Due account will be taken, when the time comes to fix coupon dates for 1943–44, of the dates of school terms, among other relevant factors.

Would not this difficulty be overcome if they were to send their children to ordinary council schools?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for the import of spare parts for primus stoves, to enable the owners of such stoves to continue their use, thus avoiding the greater consumption of oil by other stoves or the use of other kinds of fuel?

I am issuing import licences for all spare parts of primus stoves available for export to this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement on the work and progress of his enforcement department?

There have been 772 prosecutions under the rationing and Limitation of Supply Orders administered by my Department and fines totalling £560,000 have been imposed together with prison sentences totalling 52 years. Since 1st April, 1942, there have been 368 prosecutions, and fines have totalled £331,000. The work of enforcement of the Consumer Rationing Orders has been placed in the charge of ex-Superintendent Yandell of the Metropolitan Police, who was appointed Chief Enforcement Officer on 1st June, 1942. A number of experienced ex-police officers have been appointed to Mr. Yandell's staff.

While appreciating that the answer of my right hon. Friend shows that there have been very substantial activities, may I ask whether he is proposing to dispense with this enforcement Department and to depend wholly upon the activities of the police to deal with these cases?

No, Sir, it is my duty to be responsible, in consultation, of course, with the police and other Departments, for enforcing the law against black marketeers for whom, I am sure, there is very little sympathy.

May I ask whether in the meantime all these officials have been instructed that they must obey police rules and not act in any way as agents provocateur?

Yes, and in view of certain statements which have appeared in the Press I am very glad to give the House a very definite assurance on that subject. Perhaps I may read a sentence from instructions issued by my Department:

"Extreme care must be exercised at all times by the Board's enforcement officers to avoid provocation or any activity which might be construed as provocation. In general, enforcement officers making these purchases"—

"should not hold any conversation with the trader regarding coupons and should not say anything calculated to arouse the trader's sympathy. When a shop is visited the enforcement officer should avoid as far as possible making purchases from young and inexperienced assistants."

Who gets the large sums of money, totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds, represented by the fines referred to?

It all finds its way in the long run to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the recommendations of the Non-Food Retail Trade Committee?

As I explained to the House in the Debate on this subject of 23rd July, these recommendations have been strongly opposed by many of the trading interests most closely concerned. Moreover, legislation would be needed to give effect to them. In pursuance of the undertaking I gave to the House on 23rd July, I have been carefully examining, not only these recommendations, but also the views expressed by hon. Members in the course of a very useful Debate. I am now considering various practical proposals and I hope to make a statement at an early date.

Are we to understand that the whole matter will be left to discussion between one side and another? Does not the Minister realise that this matter is of the gravest urgency? It all seems feeble, and something must be done about it.

I realise that it is a matter of the greatest urgency, and I have been pursuing it with the greatest energy in my Department; so have my officers, and so have certain people from outside who have been kind enough to help me. I hope that in a few weeks I shall be able to make a definite statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the prices of household crockery and china are in some cases five times the prewar price; and what steps he is taking to control the price of these articles?

I made an Order on 1st June prohibiting any further increase in manufacturers' prices and limiting distributors' margins for all domestic pottery sold in the home market. Under the same Order I also fixed maximum prices for essential articles of plain earthenware, to which production for the home market is now largely confined. These prices are below those generally ruling before the Order was made and much below the extreme cases mentioned by my hon. Friend. I rely on members of the public to report any cases of excessive prices to the local price regulation committees for investigation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate a statement showing the terms on which the belligerent nations are borrowing for the purpose of financing their war expenditures?

I am circulating a statement giving the information asked for in the case of this country, the United States, Russia, China, Germany and Italy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his recent decision to remove the Purchase Tax from utility clothing, he will now consider extending this concession to the uniforms of officers in the Services?

No, Sir. I am afraid that I could not agree to adopt this suggestion; I do not think that the concessions made for utility clothing would justify a reversal of the decision previously reached with regard to uniforms.

Is the abolition of the Purchase Tax a bribe to induce people to buy utility clothing?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered a letter from the Lumphinnans Co-operative Women's Guild calling upon the Government to grant the full demands of the old age pensioners for 30s. per week and the abolition of the means test now operating; and what answer he has returned?

The communication referred to by the hon. Member was received and acknowledged. I cannot add to the statements made on behalf of the Government in the course of the Debate on 29th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue to the Government to date, and annually, due to licensed vehicles having been laid aside for want of the necessary motive power?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that I will not be able to give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks until the returns of licences current at the end of August have been received and analysed. These returns are not at present published, but I will send my hon. Friend the figures he wants as soon as they are ready.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to extend the Convention and Protocol between Canada and the United States of America for the avoidance of double taxation to Great Britain?

No, Sir. The provisions of our taxation law allow of double taxation agreements with other countries for the reciprocal exemption of profits arising from shipping and air transport and certain agencies, and under these provisions an agreement is in force with the United States since 1924 for the exemption of shipping profits. The double taxation agreement to which my hon. Friend refers covers a much wider field and proceeds on a different principle, and having regard to the different circumstances and different considerations obtaining in the case of the United Kingdom I could not entertain my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Having regard, in view of the present circumstances, to the similar difficulties experienced by the citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom in relation to income derived in the United States of America, will my right hon. Friend reconsider this matter?

I appreciate that aspect of the matter, but as my hon. and gallant Friend knows he was here asking me whether I could extend the protocol between Canada and the United States.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the statement in Command Paper 6385 that the charge in a typical Government hostel is 27s. 6d. per week for lodging and partial board, he will authorise an increase in the maximum allowance of £1 1s. payable for the board and lodging of a billeted person?

The 27s. 6d. a week referred to in the White Paper represents what munition workers customarily paid for board and lodgings in the munition areas. It is therefore a commercial or market figure. The guinea paid to billetors of civil servants is not of this nature. Like other billeting payments, it is intended to reimburse the householder for the expense to which he is put. As my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary stated on 19th February, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle), I do not think that any revision of the billeting guinea is called for.

My right hon. Friend has put forward the figure of 27s. 6d. per week in justification of the scale of Army pay and allowances; would it hot, therefore, be quite right to compare that figure with the figure paid to persons who are required to billet evacuees?

No, Sir; that is repeating the Question, and I can only repeat my answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the increasing number of working people who have to provide themselves with an artificial limb or surgical boots at their own expense; and whether, as no allowance is made at present in relief from Income Tax for renewals or repairs, he will consider the hardship of those people and make a provision for relief from Income Tax where such expense is found necessary by those who have to incur such expenses to enable them to carry on their occupation?

I fear that I cannot undertake to propose an amendment of the Income Tax law to afford special relief in case such as those to which my hon. Friend refers. Suggestions have been made from time to time in the past for special allowances in respect of expenses arising out of illness and disability, but however much sympathy may be felt with such cases it has been necessary to adhere to the principle that the Income Tax cannot be adjusted so as to take into account the varying circumstances of individual taxpayers.

Is it not the case that men who lost a leg in the last war are now being charged Income Tax on the amounts they need to spend to renew their artificial limb to enable them to earn the income on which they are paying the tax, and will he not reconsider the matter, because I am confident that he will have the support of this House?

I appreciate the case my hon. Friend puts forward, but I do not think it can be met through Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual interest charge on the National Debt now; and the comparable figure at its highest point during or after the last war?

The estimated cost of interest and management of the National Debt included in the Fixed Debt Charge for the current year is £325,000,000, and in addition £20,800,000 will be provided outside the Fixed Debt Charge for interest on moneys raised under the Defence Loans Acts. The highest comparable total annual charge during or after the last war was £328,043,000 in the year 1920–21.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the compilation of the recently-issued White Paper on Pay and Allowances of the Armed Forces, inquiries were made both of members of the rank and file and of selected families as to whether the present system was regarded as working satisfactorily and proving adequate?

No, Sir. Inquiries of this kind would not have been relevant to the compilation of the White Paper, which does not attempt to prejudge the question of the adequacy of the present system or otherwise. The object of the White Paper is to provide certain material relevant to the formation of a judgment on that matter.

Could the Chancellor get in touch with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, which is in touch daily with hundreds of thousands of families of members of the Armed Forces, and which knows that the women with children are in many cases finding it almost impossible to make both ends meet?