asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining good English oak the Commission is planting oak trees; and if so, to what extent?

The Forestry Commissioners are planting oak trees, the annual average during the last eight years being 2,800,000 plants.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can new make any further statement as to the causes of the fire in the Forestry Commission's plantation at a place of which he has been informed last April; will he state the dates when fire-belts were burnt outside the plantation; what action was taken by the forester to put out the fire and what steps were taken by the forester to warn the neighbouring tenants of the fire so that they could remove their stock from the grazings adjoining the plantation?

The Forestry Commissioners have no further statement to make regarding the causes of this fire. The last burning of fire belts (fire traces) was done in 1941. The necessary steps to control the fire were taken by the forester and it was fought chiefly by beating with fire brooms. The National Fire Service were also present with a fire pump. The blaze had already extended over many miles of moorland before Teaching the plantations and no direct warnings were given by the forester to neighbouring farmers.

asked the Minister of Health the incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever in Great Britain during the past five years?

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever became separately notifiable only towards the end of last year. The number of cases notified in England and Wales in the past five years has been:—1937, 2,150; 1938, 1,321; 1939, 1479; 1940, 2,848; 1941, 4,762. In 1941 there was an exceptional outbreak in the Liverpool district.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the rise in the incidence of tuberculosis, especially in children under five years of age and in view of the present impracticability of wider use of radiography in detecting tuberculosis, he will impress upon medical officers under his jurisdiction, the diagnostic value, especially in the case of infants and young children, of properly-performed tuberculin tests?

The report of the Committee of the Medical Research Council on Tuberculosis in War-Time, published last week, stresses the importance of the routine use, in all tuberculosis dispensaries, of the tuberculin test in children particularly. The report is being brought to the notice of all Medical Officers of Health of tuberculosis authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a recent investigation of the incidence of tubercle reveals that this is four times as great in women under 20 years of age as in men and that the figures for both sexes show a continuous rise; and whether he has now received the report promised from the Medical Research Council regarding the probable causes of the increased incidence in young women?

The investigation to which I think my hon. Friend refers was of a special and limited character and does not necessarily afford a basis for generalisation. The report of the committee of the Medical Research Council, which has now been published, deals at length with the incidence of tuberculosis and its war-time increase; and I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House last week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning, who is in charge of planning for North Staffordshire; will consultations take place with the Stoke City Council; and is it intended to keep the city council fully informed?

The planning authorities for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, are laid down in Section 2 of that Act, and include the Stoke City Council. If my hon. Friend's Question refers to my Noble Friend's organisation, my Noble Friend has appointed planning officers with headquarters at convenient centres in order to facilitate collaboration with local authorities in Town and Country Planning. A planning officer, with headquarters at Birmingham, has been appointed for the area which includes North Staffordshire. He will be in contact with the Stoke City Council and other authorities in his area, in order to keep my Noble Friend informed of their problems, and the local authorities informed of the requirements of national policy as it is developed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give a complete list of the various postage stamps issued in this country in respect of the present reign, indicating which of them are still in issue; and whether, to effect economies, he has any further changes in mind?

The standard series of current postage stamps consists of the ½d., 1d., 1½d., 2d., 2½d., 3d., 4d., 5d., 6d., 7d., 8d., 9, d., 10d., 1s., 2s. 6d., 5s., and 10s. values. A 1½d. stamp of special design was issued to mark the occasion of His Majesty's Coronation, and special stamps of the ½d., 1d., 1½d., 2d., 2½d., and 3d. values were issued in commemoration of the Centenary of the introduction of the Penny Post, but these are no longer in issue. In order to save dye-stuffs the ½d., 1d., 1½d., 2d., 2½d., and 3d. stamps in the standard series have been reprinted in lighter shades, and the colour of the 2s. 6d. stamp has been altered from chocolate to green. Some stamps of these denominations in the original shades are still in issue while old stocks are being used up. I have no further changes in mind at present except that the colour of the 10s. stamp will be reduced in shade.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make a statement on his recent visit to Newfoundland; and whether consideration was given to the present constitutional position of this Dominion?

My main object in visiting Newfoundland was to make personal contact on the spot with the Governer and the Commissioners, to see for myself something of the island and its, people, and to gain a first-hand impression of its many activities and its problems. As regards the second part of the Question, I was glad to find that a good deal of thought is being given in Newfoundland to the problems of reconstruction, social, economic and political, which will face the island after the war. At the same time there is general recognition that the first duty of all of us must be to concentrate on the winning of the war, and by doing so to establish the foundations on which reconstruction will be possible.

asked the President of the Bcard of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that a sufficient supply of the special dry batteries necessary for electrical amplifying valve types of hearing apparatus for the deaf shall be available?

Last year my predecessor arranged that all new hearing aid apparatus should be made to take a standard battery, which could be supplied without undue difficulty, and most existing sets have been converted to use this type of battery. I have now arranged for an increased and improved production of the special batteries required for apparatus, which, for various reasons, cannot be converted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining perambulators and children's cots in South-east London at present; and whether he will permit the production of larger supplies which can be sold at reasonable prices?

I am aware that there has been difficulty in obtaining children's cots and perambulators, and I am most anxious that there should be an adequate supply at reasonable prices. Children's cots will be included in the scheme of utility furniture for sale at controlled prices. The production of perambulators, as I have previously explained to the House, is limited by the fact that much of the materials, capacity and labour are now required for making munitions of war. The output has increased considerably as a result of simplifications in design introduced last year, and I hope to obtain a still further improvement. A plan for distributing the available supplies fairly over the country is being worked out with the industry.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) what proportion of the families of service men resident within the London Civil Defence Region are in receipt of war service grants;(2) how many of the 427,000 families of service men stated to be in receipt of war service grants on l0th September, 1942, were resident within the London Civil Defence Region.

I have no information as to the number of families of service men resident within the London Civil Defence Region, neither have I exact figures of the number of war service grants being paid to the families of service men now resident in that region. A recent estimate, however, of the number of recipients of war service grants in the London Civil Defence Region is 100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the inoculation of British troops with yellow-fever vaccine was first started during this war; and whether the vaccine was obtained from manufacturers in this country or the United States of America?

Vaccination against yellow fever of British troops proceeding to yellow fever endemic areas was introduced before the war, and has been continued without interruption. Most of the vaccine used is manufactured in this country, but some supplies are obtained from the United States of America.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any cases of yellow fever have been diagnosed in British troops in any area in which they have been stationed since the commencement of the present war?

Yes, Sir. Three.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many doses the British Army in Africa took in 1941 of yellow fever vaccine, virus 17D, manufactured by the Rockefeller Foundation; whether he is aware that this vaccine is suspected of having caused 28,000 cases of jaundice in American troops with 68 deaths during the six months January to June, 1942: whether there has been any jaundice ir the British Army amongst soldiers inoculated with yellow fever vaccine; and whether he has made- any inquiry into the possibility of harmful effects of the yellow fever vaccine now being used on British soldiers?

Without instituting protracted inquiries locally it is impossible to say how many of the doses of yellow fever vaccine administered to British troops in 1941 were manufactured by the Rockefeller Foundation. I am aware that certain batches of this vaccine have been suspected of causing cases of jaundice among American troops. None of the cases of jaundice which have occurred among British troops can be attributed to the inoculation against yellow fever. The effects of inoculation are always carefully watched and no harmful effects among British troops have been noticed as a result of inoculations against yellow fever.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been invalided out of the service suffering from duodenal ulcers; and whether any inquiry has been made as to the cause?

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give the precise figures but I can inform my hon. Friend that the proportion of men invalided from the Army suffering from duodenal ulcers is about 11 per cent. of the number invalided on account of all diseases. There is no evidence to show that Army life renders men more liable to duodenal ulcers than they would be in civil life and I am satisfied that no special inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will undertake that no pressure shall be put upon any unit to purchase sports equipment through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes instead of through the usual trade channels which have been in the habit of supplying such equipment to the Army in peace time?

Owing to the curtailment in the manufacture of sports equipment there is only a limited supply available for the use of the Army. It is necessary to ensure that the Army allocation is not exceeded and that it is distributed among the units according to their need. I do not consider it practicable or desirable to create a new organisation to control and distribute the supplies, and it is therefore necessary for units to use the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' existing organisation. These arrangement apply only to equipment needed for certain specified outdoor and indoor games. Units can still obtain goods for other games from retailers if they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information about the bursting of a shell which killed two men while they were taking part in a field exercise on Friday, 2nd October; how the shell came to be thrown among the men; what was the verdict of the coroner at the inquest held at Lewes on Saturday, 3rd October; whether the wives of the men killed will be compensated and upon what basis?

I am awaiting a report on this accident and will communicate with my hon. Friend when I have considered it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in fixing the periods of qualification for substantive ranks of non-commissioned officers, the views of such soldiers were ascertained; and, if so, by what means?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the importance of maintaining communications, he will authorise the appointment of company signal officers in the Home Guard; and whether he will insist that only those with the requisite qualifications and experience, of whom there are many now serving in the ranks, are appointed?

The appointment of a company signal officer has recently been authorised in large companies of the Home Guard where the signal duties are sufficiently heavy to justify the appointment in addition to the corporal who is appointed to all companies for this purpose. All commissions in the Home Guard are granted from the ranks and only the best qualified men available are recommended.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the International Red Cross arrangements for British prisoners of war in Japanese hands have broken down; and, if so, what steps are being taken to have suitable arrangements made for forwarding correspondence and for securing contact between British prisoners of war in the East and their relatives in Britain?

The arrangements which the International Red Cross Committee has been able to make for British prisoners of war in Japanese hands with the permission of the Japanese authorities have not broken down. The supplies sent to British prisoners of war by the diplomatic exchange ships from Lourenco Marques were arranged by the International Red Cross Committee. With the agreement of the Japanese authorities, my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General established in July last a prisoner-of-war post from this country to Japan by which correspondence for British prisoners of war and civil internees in Japan and Japanese occupied territories can be forwarded. It has not been necessary to utilise the International Red Cross as an intermediary for this service.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that competent authorities have advised that the present shortage of coal output could be overcome if the mining day of all pit workers was prolonged by one hour's overtime; and whether he has discussed with the representatives of the miners the adoption of this suggestion during the coming period of grave national danger?

The suggestion contained in the Question has been discussed from time to time with both sides of the industry: their advice has been that the extension of the working day is in a number of pits impracticable and that in general the interests of production would not be served by its adoption.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the quantity of coal exported to Eire during the past year to the nearest convenient date?

I regret that it is not in the national interest to give figures of this tonnage of coal exported in wartime.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any information as to the quantity of free coal supplied by colliery companies to persons not associated with the industry and the tonnage supplied without charge to persons in administrative positions not associated in the production of coal?

Information as to the quantities involved is not available, but supplies to the persons referred to in the Question are subject to regulation under the Fuel and Lighting Registration and Distribution Order, 1942, in the same way as supplies obtained through an ordinary merchant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has yet received the Report of the Joint Committee of the Electricity Supply Industry on the reorganisation of the industry, including rural development; and, if not, whether, in view of current proposals, he will ask for its early presentation?

No, Sir. But I am informed that the Joint Committee are preparing such a report, and no doubt they will submit it to me in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the registration of boys and girls, not at school, between the ages of 14 and 16; and with what result?

The Youth Advisory Council have considered this question but have not as yet recommended the registration of the age group concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Lewes Town Council decided not to pay their teachers the war bonus recommended by the Burnham Committee; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has communicated with the Lewes local education authority and drawn their attention to the recent amendment of the Board's Grant Regulations, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. Whether it will be necessary for the Board to apply the Regulation as amended depends upon the action taken by the teachers. I understand, however, that the executive of the National Union of Teachers have advised the authority that they propose to report the dispute to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service with a view to action under the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, 1940.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will give an assurance that in any proposed modification of the Government's Road Haulage Scheme no preferential treatment will be accorded to, nor any monopolistic position conferred upon, any particular transport undertakings or class of undertakings?

Any modifications of the Road Haulage Scheme which may be made will be designed to promote the national war effort and not to serve the interests of particular undertakings or classes of undertakings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider an extension of time for the issue of workmen's tickets in the London transport area until 8.30 a.m. in order to ease the pressure on vehicles arriving at the London termini by 8 a.m. and make a practical step towards avoiding workmen wasting time in getting to their employment?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 30th June, in which I explained that this proposal had been given careful consideration but that it had not been adopted, because it would be likely to increase the pressure at peak hours and to cause undesirable diversion of traffic.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the present ratio of imported wheat compared with the average ratio for the years 1934–35, represented as being 87 per cent. in an official publication of the Ministry dated May, 1941?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 30th September. The figure he quotes refers to a pre-war period and I regret it would not be in the public interest to supply similar information in regard to the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a large amount of potatoes are still in the ground; and whether, in view of the possibility of a wet autumn, he will expedite their collection?

The potato harvest is a little later than usual but everything possible will be done to see that it is safely gathered.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether he will, after consultation with the War Department, satisfy himself that tyres that are in condition to be repaired and retreaded after use on military vehicles are not allowed to accumulate undealt with and that every reputable and efficient new tyre and retreading firm is given a fair share of the work;(2) what is the policy of the Government with regard to retreading worn tyres from commercial and service vehicles; what are the proportions in which such repairs will be allocated to new tyre companies and capable retreading firms, and the number of such companies and firms?

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the instructions issued by the Army Council should ensure that suitable tyres are sent for repair and retreading without delay. Wherever possible, Service and civilian demands for tyres are met by retreaded tyres. There are 88 plants licensed for retreading work, of which n belong to concerns which also manufacture new tyres. Commercial tyres are allocated for retreading on the basis of previous output of commercial size retreads. The retreading of Service tyres is allocated to those retreaders able to deal with the special sizes and types involved.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider making use of the system which has been amply proved as popular of allowing, at least, suitable large users of tyres to have their own tyres returned to them after retreading and thus retain and encourage the personal interest in long tyre life and conservation of rubber, while retaining his right to requisition if such tyres are stocked unduly?

This proposal has been carefully considered and my right hon. Friend is of the opinion that its adoption is undesirable in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are to be taken to ensure that giant tyres are removed from commercial vehicles before destruction sets in, in order that their life may be prolonged by successive retreadings; and will he consider more attractive prices for casings and heavy penalties for failure to economise in the national interest?

The measures being taken include the appointment of inspectors to supervise the maintenance of the tyres of commercial vehicles and to advise users; propaganda to bring home to users the importance of proper maintenance; and the payment of a reasonable price for tyres surrendered fit for retreading. Further steps art; under consideration in consultation with my Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, and my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion of making the improper use of tyres subject to penalty will be borne in mind. The values of casings were fixed after consultation with all interests concerned and I have no reason to suppose that operators regard them as inadequate.