asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered representations from the burgh of Mihigavie protesting against the imposition of the county of Dunbarton's requisition for an additional sum of £2,823 as a consequence of air-raids on the burgh of Clydebank in March, 1941; that the sum mentioned represents an increase in the burgh rates of 1s. per £ and, as this district has no industries due to war activities and that hardship will ensue from the proposed increase, will he take steps to relieve this burgh?

I have had representations from the burgh of Milngavie and other local authorities affected by the Dunbarton County requisition. Inquiries are being made into the extent to which, as a result of air-raid damage, the burden on the ratepayers may be increased in the current year, with a view to ascertaining whether the position warrants assistance under the Government scheme for assisting local authorities.

In view of the fact that every adjoining county has had substantial reductions in rates, is there any reason why bombed areas should be asked to pay for their suffering?

Most urgent inquiries are being made, and as soon as replies come from the burghs concerned the whole position will be examined.

Will the Secretary of State have regard to the fact that the Scottish Office asked the town of Milngavie to make provision for over 200 evacuees and that Milngavie had to make provision for almost 3,000?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to prevent the disappearance of the finer tweed and cloth trade of Scotland; and, in particular, will he bear this industry in mind in connection with his plans for post-war Scotland?

I am advised by the Scottish Advisory Council on Industry that the Scottish tweed and cloth trade is receiving a fair share of Government work and a fair allocation of wool for civilian production. If my hon. Friend has any information to the contrary I shall be glad to ask the Advisory Council to look into it. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

Will the Secretary of State see to it that in the case of any more new industries in Scotland Fife gets a fair share of them?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to preserve the export trade of the finer tweed and cloth industry of Scotland; and whether he is aware that unless steps are now taken to assist the industry, which largely depends on the skill of its workers, this valuable export trade may be lost?

Exports of woollen goods, as of other goods, have had to be limited, but I am glad to be able to assure my hon. Friend that Scottish industry is getting its fair share of the present export trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider the issue of a limited quantity of feeding-stuffs for poultry in cases where the owners are aged or infirm and it can be proved that this is their main source of livelihood?

I have asked agricultural executive committees to report upon any cases of exceptional hardship of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that when he receives these reports some action may be taken in the cases of exceptional hardship?

I do not think that I ought to be pressed on that until I see the extent to which these cases arise. As the hon. Member is aware, a general relaxation of the provision is not possible. A relaxation is already being made for blind persons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of canteens now established at coal mines; what proportion of these supply hot meals; and what is the number of pits at which no canteen facilities are provided?

Eight hundred and nineteen coal mines employing more than 50 persons have canteens established, and 71 mines employing less than 50 persons have been provided with a food service. Canteens supplying full meals are in operation at 123 mines, under construction at 181 and in preparation at 147, making a total of 451 covering 57 per cent. of the personnel of the industry. Hot snacks are obtainable at a number of the other canteens also. Two hundred and eleven mines employing more than 50 persons have no canteen facilities at present, but at 110 of these, building or other preparatory work is in progress towards establishing canteens, and at nearly all the others the workmen do not want canteens.

Is the Minister taking-steps to increase the number of canteens which are providing full meals? Is he aware that the facilities so far provided are short of the real need if miners are to maintain their health?

Anything I can do to push that forward I shall do, as I attach the greatest importance to that policy.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the incidence of industrial diseases among coalminers is increasing; whether he will give figures showing the increase in the number of cases of dermatitis and the reasons for the increase?

As indicated in a reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 10th February, there has been some increase in certain categories of disease and some decrease in others during recent years. For reasons which are at present obscure the number of cases of dermatitis among miners Certified by examining surgeons for purposes of Workmen's Compensation has increased from 224 in 1937 to a provisional figure of 571 for 1941. As the problems of dermatitis also arise, and to a greater extent, in the case of factory workers, I am consulting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service as to the best lines of investigating the matter more closely.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there is considerable medical opinion among the medical men who serve in the mining areas that this increase in dermatitis, which is very serious, is due to certain deficiencies in the diet? Will he have immediate inquiries made into that point?

I have had inquiries made into one section of diet to which the hon. Member has previously referred. He will not be surprised to hear that medical opinion is exactly the opposite. There has been an increase which has not been confined to the mining industry nor to the war years. I am making the most careful inquiries.

Will the Minister consult the medical officer of the Ministry of Supply as a great many cases of dermatitis have occurred in Royal Ordnance factories, and he is rather an expert on the matter?

indicated assent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the cost of equipping the site of the coal-stocking dump, of which he has been informed; why, after this expenditure, the site has been abandoned without any coal being laid down; and whether he has any statement to make regarding storage nearby?

The site to which my hon. Friend draws attention is one of a number of sites in the colliery areas which my Ministry has equipped for the reception of a substantial tonnage of coal in the event of transport difficulties which might interfere with normal distribution to consumers, and which would otherwise involve the closing of pits. The site has not yet been used, but there is no question of abandoning it, and I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that this is an essential form of insurance against possible loss of production.

Is the Minister aware the first part of the Question relates not to the site he mentions but to another site which is being put within two miles of the one which is more or less completed?

I thought the one to which the hon. Member's Question referred was the one with which I have dealt in my answer. If I have misunderstood him, I shall be very glad to look into the matter.

Does the Minister think it wise to proceed with this expensive scheme when within a region of five miles there are facilities for up to 750,000 tons of coal to be dumped and there is none lying there at the present time?

The fact that none is lying there has no bearing on the matter, as these facilities are for emergency purposes. I dealt with the case which I thought was the one the hon. Member referred to, and there, I am satisfied, there is no waste at all.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the large amount of fuel which is wasted in providing light to illuminate rooms without sufficient natural light owing to the total or partial blocking up of windows with opaque material following air-raid damage; and whether, in these circumstances he can arrange with the departments concerned to release a greater quantity of translucent material for the repairing of damaged windows up and down the country?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As to the second part, the difficulty of restoring daylight to such rooms arises from the shortage of materials, but I am considering, in conjunction with my Noble Friend the Minister of Works and Planning, the possibility of increasing the supply of translucent materials.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make it possible that miners ready for work but not required will, instead of being laid off, be given the opportunity of assisting in the recovery of scrap-metal of various kinds in the workings?

Provided that it is not possible for arrangements to be made for miners laid off their usual work to be employed in other work which will directly or indirectly assist in the production of coal, I am prepared to give every encouragement through the regional organisation to arrangements for the utilisation of their services, where possible, in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many employees were at work in coalmines on 1st January, 1942; and how many were so employed at the most recent date for which figures are available?

The number of wage-earners on colliery books was, at 3rd January, 1942, 708,008, and on 12th September, 1942, 711,498.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many of the employees now at work in mines are, respectively, newcomers during 1942 and former miners released from the Services; and what proportion of the latter are coal face workers?

Between 3rd January, 1942, and 19th September, 1942, 9,192 men released from the Army and the Royal Air Force and 9,765 men transferred from other industries returned to work in the coal mining industry. It is estimated that approximately 8,000 juveniles started work in the same period. I regret that the information requested in the last part of the Question is not avail-; able. The special schemes for the release of men from the Forces have related, however, only to underground workers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average output in the year 1939 per coal face worker and per employee at the mines of Great Britain, respectively; and the relative figures so far available for the current year?

The average weekly output (allowing for the effect of holidays) in the year 1939 per coal-face worker was 14.73 tons, and per employee 6.08 tons; the figures for 1942, up to and including the week ending 12th September, are 14.48 tons and 5.71 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any method, other than release of miners from the Forces, is expected to produce the extra coal required in the coming winter?

It is not possible to deal with this question satisfactorily during Question Time, and I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement I hope to make during the forthcoming Debate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how the present output of coal per coal-face worker per shift compares with the output a year ago?

Both in August and September, 1941, the output per coalface worker per shift averaged 2.98 tons. In August this year, the average was 2.81 tons, and in the weeks in September for which figures are at present available—that is, the first two weeks—the output per shift worked at the face was 2.86 and 2.85 tons, respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give the figures of absenteeism for coal-getters, other underground workers and surface workers, respectively, before and since wages were raised?

Owing to the incidence of holidays, it is not possible to compare the period immediate following the increase in wages with that which preceded it. A comparison of the rates of absenteeism in the five weeks ending 12th September with those for the five weeks preceding the Report of the Board of Investigation into Miners' Wages shows that the percentage of absenteeism among face-workers has increased from 13.18 to 13.93 per cent.; among other underground workers from 10.25 to 10.85 per cent.; and among surface workers from 5.99 to 6.60 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can take steps to ensure more efficient use of daylight in black-out arrangements and save electricity and fuel?

I am anxious to secure the substitution of removable black-out fittings for fixed ones wherever practicable; but the obstacle in the way of doing this generally is shortage both of labour and materials.

Is the Minister aware that there is great variety in the amount of ingenuity shown by firms in accomplishing this object? Could he not utilise propaganda, to get firms to use their brains as well as materials?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will give an estimate of the percentage of coal converted into slack in the course of unloading and stacking at the Solihull reserve dump;

It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the percentage of slack, in the emergency stock of coal at Solihull. Whilst it is recognised in the coal trade that in unloading coal from railway wagons and stacking it, a certain amount of breakage is unavoidable, I am satisfied that in the case of the reserve stock in Solihull, no abnormal breakage of coal has occurred. I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 8th September concerning the inquiries made in the Solihull district before a contractor was appointed to unload and stack coal consigned to the reserve dump.

As the local merchants have completed unloading at this dump and are now unloading at two other dumps without damage to coal or wagons, and are doing so at the Ministry's own price, will my right hon. and gallant Friend say why this arrangement could not have been made in the first instance?

Because no merchant was prepared to do it in the first instance, at the price. They were all approached, and we had to fall back on the man who has done it.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend suggest that all the possible merchants in the Solihull district were approached?

That is my information; and, at the price at which we wanted it done, they would not do it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many employees of firms have been prosecuted for illegal transactions in coupons; how many such prosecutions have succeeded; whether any employees have been prosecated where all the financial benefits of such transactions have passed to the employer; and why all prosecutions of this nature are not directed exclusively against the employer?

From 1st June, 1941, when clothes rationing was introduced, up to 15th September, 1942, 72 employees have been prosecuted for aiding and abetting offences committed by their employers against the Consumer Rationing Orders. Fifty-six of these persons have been convicted. It is not possible to say whether in these cases all the financial benefits from law-breaking have passed to the employers.

May we take it that the right hon. Gentleman will inform his legal department that no prosecutions will lie against the employees in future where the benefit of these illegal transactions inures direct to the employer?

No, Sir, I cannot give any such instruction. It is the duty of employees, as well as of employers, to keep the law. The heavier weight of fine falls upon the employer, but I shall give no instructions to my legal department which will diminish the efficacy of our measures to prevent such transactions.

Would it not strengthen the hand of the Board of Trade if the word "employer" in the Regulations were altered to "person"?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will send me a note on that matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that profiteering on urgent family requirements such as perambulators, cots and all kinds of baby clothes still continues unchecked; and whether he will investigate any cases brought to his notice with the object of restraining this exploitation of young married couples?

The prices of all the articles referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend are subject to control either under the Prices of Goods Act, or under Orders that I have made. If he will bring to my notice any cases of alleged profiteering, I will have them investigated. It is also open to any member of the public to report such cases to the local price regulation committee.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, might I also ask him whether that applies to secondhand goods?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information in connection with the charges made against the company of chemists at Cheltenham on 15th September for exceeding the quota of cosmetics, toilet preparations, and fancy goods and what action he intends taking about the matter?

For exceeding its quota the United Chemists Association, Limited, was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay 100 guineas costs. A director was fined £450, another director £75, and the secretary £150. Further, for recklessly furnishing false returns the company was fined £200 and the secretary £100. I do not intend to take any further action in the matter.

May I take it that no ordinary employees at all were prosecuted in this case?

I could not say that without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by people in country districts in obtaining renewals of batteries for wireless sets and also of the high prices charged in some cases; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

Increased Service requirements have led to a temporary decrease in the number of high tension batteries for wireless sets available for the public but steps have been taken to secure a substantial increase in production and an improvement in distribution. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of the high prices charged, I will look into the matter.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication as to when it is expected that old age pensioners and others will be able to get this concession, which they cannot have now?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that in time of war the Services have to come first, as a matter of necessity. But two new factories are coming into production very shortly; arrangements for increased production date back some little way, and I hope that we shall be getting full production early in the new year. But I repeat that my first duty is to the Services. The civilian population will none the less get some benefits from this increased production.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do all he can to assist the deaf to get batteries for their instruments?

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for confining the appointment of Army chiropodists to the home establishment?

In the early part of the war regimental foot orderlies were provided for field units and were thought adequate, especially in view of the increasing mechanisation of the Army. In view, however, of experience which suggests that more skilled treatment may be desirable, I am now considering the attachment of fully qualified chiropodists to field medical units.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, following the precedent of the last war in forbidding officers and men going into the front line from taking any written orders or papers with them, any such prohibition was given before the recent operations at Dieppe; whether it was enforced by search; and whether, in the interests of security, such prohibition and search will be enforced by officers commanding units in all similar operations?

This matter is the subject of investigation at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a battalion commander of the Home Guard in the West of Scotland has requested members of his company to supply him with the names and addresses of persons in his area who, in their view, should be in the Home Guard; that he would, on receipt of same, write to those persons and, if they did not respond, he would submit the names to the Ministry of Labour; and if this practice is authorised by his Department?

I only received particulars of the unit in question from my hon. Friend on Saturday and have not yet been able to complete my inquiries. As soon as I have done so I will communicate with him.

Will the right hon. Gentleman extend his inquiries to Worthing in the South of England and to Dunbartonshire where similar allegations are made?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that while the Minister of Labour is the authority to say whether a particular man should be directed into the Home Guard, it is frequently helpful to the local official of the Ministry of Labour to have suggestions from a battalion commander; and, without prejudging the issue in this case, will he see that fact is not interfered with, as, unfortunately, there are still a number of men who are not doing any form of national service?

My right hon. and gallant Friend is quite right. There is thorough local collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the Home Guard authorities, as there must be if the arrangements are to work.

Does that necessitate spying upon other people's activities?

I am not prepared to prejudge the issue.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are many hundreds of volunteers in the London district anxious to join the Home Guard but not allowed to do so as the battalions have been limited to a maximum number; and whether, in view of the fact that the invasion leaflet states that a civilian can join the Home Guard, he will reconsider the organisation of the London district with a view to enabling volunteers to join?

I am aware that a certain number of volunteers cannot at present be accepted by two units of which my hon. Friend has given me particulars, because these have reached their full establishment. The difficulty is, however, purely a local one, for, as I have informed him, there are still many vacancies in almost all the Home Guard anti-aircraft units throughout the London district.

Is it possible for men in this area—as many hundreds of them are anxious to do—to join some other area, or can the right hon. Gentleman remove the limit which has been imposed on this area so that these men can join?

I understand that "Many hundreds" is somewhat of an exaggeration. If the men want to join in that district they should put their names down and wait for vacancies, which are not very long in occurring.

Can they join in another district?

I do not think so, but I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the great expansion in the work and responsibilities of Home Guard adjutants since their pay and allowances were fixed at the rates for a regimental captain, he will reconsider granting to them adjutant's pay?

Officers are now specially appointed to Home Guard units for administrative and quartermaster duties previously undertaken by the adjutant. I cannot therefore agree that on the whole his remaining duties compare unfavourably with the duties at the time when the present: rates were fixed.

Generally speaking, are not Home Guard adjutants harder worked than other adjutants in the Home Forces?

That, I think, is a matter of opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of the inquiry he promised into the circumstances consequent to the requisitioning of 12, Cliffe Park, Sunderland, by the War Department?

I have inquired into the circumstances of the case and have ascertained that this house was damaged by fire during its occupation by the military. The repair of the house for continued military occupation was not considered necessary and the house is no longer required for military use. It was derequisitioned accordingly; the owner's claim for compensation for damage under Section 2 (1, b) of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, is being negotiated. I have no power to repair property not required by the military or to continue to hold such property on requisition.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is grossly unfair, having allowed the house to be burnt out during the occupation of the military, that he should then de-requisition it and refuse compensation for longer than such period during which it could be repaired unless authority could be obtained from the Ministry of Health; and should there not be full compensation until it could be put into a proper state of repair?

The compensation for the damage done will be paid, and the claim is at present being negotiated. I quite agree with my hon. Friend that this is one of the hard cases, and I have done my best to see if I could find any way around it, but I have not been able to do so. An unfortunate feature arises from the fact that, even after compensation is paid, it is not possible for the owner himself to put the building into repair. In that respect he is in the same position as a house-owner or anyone else whose house has been bombed and who cannot get permission from the Ministry of Works and Planning to repair the building.

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the committee to consider the position of Voluntary Aid Detachments in relation to the Services has yet been set up, and whether he will state the composition of the committee?

Arrangements for setting up the committee have just been completed. The agreed terms of reference are:

"To consider the scope and method of employment of Mobile Voluntary Aid Detachments by, and their relationship to, the Services."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the results of his review of the adequacy of existing Army cadet grants?

No, Sir, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

In view of the fact that it is now four months since I drew the attention of my right hon. Friend to this matter, will he tell me when he can give me a decision?

I cannot say beyond "shortly."

asked the Secretary of Sate for War what is the authorised establishment for Army cadets in Great Britain; and what is the total enrolment?

The authorised establishment of the Army Cadet Force is 175,000. 154,056 cadets had enrolled by the end of July of this year, and it is estimated that this number has now increased to about 172,000.

In view of the fact that the enrolment of cadets outside London has not reached the establishment and that the small number of 4,500, which is the establishment in London, was reached some time ago, would it not be possible to enlarge the establishment for London owing to the fact that some of the establishments have not been reached in the country?

I think I told my hon. Friend before the Recess that that is precisely the question I am now considering.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are large numbers of youths in various constituencies who have been refused because the ceiling is very low, and is it not desirable that they should be given the opportunity of training and learning discipline?

The same answer applies to that Question. The whole question of the ceiling is at present under consideration but, as I said on the last occasion, it is no good making a vast increase in the ceiling if the uniform and arms cannot be provided.

Is not the total of 4,500 an absurd ceiling for London, and will steps be taken to increase this number as soon as possible, so that it will no longer be necessary to refuse to enrol many boys anxious to become Army cadets?

What objection could there be to giving them a brassard and a hat?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make on the reorganisation of Army transport services?

Since the answer is rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will see that soldiers are, wherever possible, given as good accommodation as airmen?

I am not sure whether the hon. Member is referring to a particular difference in the scales of accommodation for the Army and for the Royal Air Force. The general standard is now broadly similar for both Services, but there is at present in certain types of construction a somewhat larger Royal Air Force allowance for sleeping accommodation, which, as my right hon. Friend has satisfied me, is necessary on operational and other grounds. The hon. Member will also appreciate that much of the accommodation already built for the Royal Air Force is of a standard which is not at present applicable to new construction for either Service.

Why do soldiers have to sleep on paliasses while airmen sleep on beds?

Why, do Italian prisoners sleep on beds too?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends to make any change in the present system of granting acting and temporary rank in the Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the almost universal dissatisfaction amongst officers and other ranks in the Army in respect of the granting of acting and temporary ranks; and whether, in order to put an end to the uncertainty and hardship inseparable from the present system, he will abolish the temporary rank of officers and reduce the length of qualifying periods for substantive ranks of officers and non-commissioned officers?

I am at present considering the possibility of making certain amendments in the conditions governing war-time promotions with the object of giving to officers somewhat greater security against loss of rank through no fault of their own.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether it would be possible for him to make a statement on this matter before very long?

All I can say about that is that I hope so, but, of course, other Departments are concerned in it and a certain amount of inter-departmental discussion is required.

Will the contemplated regulations be made restrospective?

I think we had better wait and see what the regulations are in fact going to be.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the strong feeling in this House and in the Army that some- thing should be done about this matter as quickly as possible?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many times the Standing Committee on Army Administration have met during the past 12 months and who are the present members?

The Standing Committee on Army Administration has met on two occasions in the past 12 months, and is meeting again ton 1st October. I will send my hon. Friend a list showing the present composition of the Committee.

Is it not quite evident from the reply which the right hon. Gentleman has given that this Committee, and probably many others too, exist only in name and have no real functions unless an hon. Member puts a Question on the Order Paper?

It is not in the least so. The Committee, in the course of its deliberations, made recommendations for other machinery to carry on, in a day-today manner, things which it thought ought to be done. The Committee has created machinery which makes frequent meetings unnecessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some information as to what are the reconunendations which have meant the superseding of this Committee?

My predecessor in office, on at least one occasion, if not more, has given the House the information.

Will my right hon. Friend publish the names in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Have these committees executive authority?

Some have and some are advisory.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends to review the existing arrangements under which additional marriage allowance of 6d. per day is paid to service men's wives within the London postal area, having regard to the fact that this area no longer corresponds with the urban area of Greater London, within which higher rents prevail?

It is not possible to vary the rates of family allowance according to the cost of living in a particular locality, and War Service Grants have been instituted to supplement family allowance in cases where families have to pay specially high rents or meet other special expenses. It is admitted that the issue of the additional allowance referred to presents anomalies, but any extension of the area in which it is issued would equally present anomalies and it is not therefore proposed to extend the scope of the present regulation.