asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now reconsider his decision to distribute sports goods to the Services through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, instead of the normal trade channels?

In accordance with the undertaking which I gave last week, I have re-examined this question, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. Having regard to the shortage of supplies, he and I are both satisfied that the present system of distributing priority sports goods is necessary to ensure equitable distribution to Service users.

Is my right hon. Friend prepared, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for War, to receive a deputation on this subject this week?

It would be wrong for me to give an answer without consulting my right hon. Friend, but this matter really has been looked at repeatedly from every angle. I myself doubt whether it is well for Members to pursue it further, although I am sure my right hon. Friend would agree with me that we are always at the service of Members on such matters.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will provide special householders coupons for all types of towel?

No, Sir; the ordinary clothing coupons are available for this purpose.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that the people of small means are at a great disadvantage, as they are not accustomed to keep large stocks in their homes? Should not the matter be looked into from that point of view?

I am anxious to make it as little difficult as possible, and for that reason we have advanced the release of the red coupons to 15th March from 1st April. It will, therefore, be possible for coupons to be drawn on rather more rapidly than they might otherwise have been. I would like to mention that the increase in the production of towels will, I hope, be of the order of 60 per cent. in view of shortages that have been revealed, but that, of course, is at the expense of other cotton goods.

Is the Minister aware that coupons for towels must come off either the husband's clothing or the wife's clothing, and as the husband is reluctant to go short of clothing the woman has to go short to provide the house with towels. Why not have separate coupons for towels?

I hope there will be mutually agreeable arrangements made in the different households. We have endeavoured to assist them by pre-dating the next period.

Why put obstacles in the way of people keeping themselves clean?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the transport limitations now imposed in this country on soldiers and airmen alike, he will consider instituting, in co-operation with the Air Ministry, a system of travelling opticians with the necessary supply and repair equipment?

Numerous optical centres are situated throughout the country according to the distribution of troops. There are also sub-centres where their formation is justified by the number of troops in the area. These are visited by ophthalmic specialists from the main centres. A similar service exists in the Royal Air Force, and the facilities provided by the two Services are available for use by either where convenience is served. In this way a more efficient service is provided than would be possible if travelling opticians took the place of the static centres, and, in general, less transport is used.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the successful attack by the Royal Air Force in the Middle East on an eastbound enemy train near Bir Habbata means that the desert railway, its locomotives, and equipment were not destroyed by the Eighth Army during its retreat into Egypt?

The railway referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend stretches for some 280 miles from El Daba, behind the German and Italian lines, to Belhamed, 15 miles from Tobruk. It was not possible in the limited time available for the track to be effectively demolished throughout its length. As it has now been in enemy hands some three months, the enemy have had ample time to make good any damage which we were able to effect before our withdrawal. No locomotives, except one which was completely demolished, were allowed to fall into enemy hands. It is know that since his advance, the enemy has shipped Italian locomotives to Africa. He is at present working his railway traffic with these, and with those wagons which could not be withdrawn by us in time.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many attacks have been made on the enemy forces occupying the Channel Islands by British Forces since the German occupation, and with what effect?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 13th October. I have nothing to add to that answer.

But that was no answer; the right hon. Gentleman did not give any information. Are we to understand that the Germans are not aware of these attacks?

My hon. Friend can understand only that it would be unbecoming in me to claim greater knowledge than the Deputy Prime Minister had.

This is unusual modesty on the part of the right hon. Gentleman, is it not?

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has been occupying certain land, of which particulars have been sent to him, since November, 1941, without it being requisitioned and for which he is paying no rent, although the tenant has to pay rent for it; and why he has now occupied a further 10 acres without requisitioning it?

The original site was requisitioned in July, 1941, and compensation has been regularly paid. On two occasions since then it has been necessary to increase the area of the site for operational reasons, and this was done at once without objection by the tenant. Both for agricultural and for technical military reasons, it proved difficult to define exactly the boundary of the fresh area to be requisitioned, and so, unfortunately, there was some delay. The boundary has now been fixed, and notice of requisition is being served; compensation due for the larger area will be promptly paid.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers, other ranks, and civilians under 30 years of age are employed in administrative posts in the War Office or branches of the War Office; and how many of these are in medical category A?

The figures asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend are being prepared, and I will communicate with him as soon as they are ready. He will appreciate that this information will take some time and labour to compile.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that information of that kind ought already to be at his disposal?

No, Sir.

Will it be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by a large number of serving soldiers in understanding their rates of pay and allowances, he will consider in what way they can simplify these with a view to their being more readily understood?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on this subject on 10th September, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the present meods are somewhat obsolete and antiquated? Does he not fully realise the necessity for the men in the Army getting to know what they are entitled to, and having a simple form that they can understand?

Certainly; if my hon. Friend will read the extract that I will send him he will see that I do understand that.

But, in spite of that answer, the soldier does not understand the system of payment. He wants to have the thing simplified.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many children have been killed and injured, in a neighbourhood of which he has been informed, as a result of military exercises; and what steps he proposes to take to minimise the risk of such accidents in the future?

I regret that one child has been killed and four injured as a result of two accidents in the place referred to by my hon. Friend. I am making full inquiries into the circumstances of both. Fresh instructions are now being prepared, and will shortly be issued, dealing with the stricter enforcement of safety precautions when firing practice takes place.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that where places are constantly used for exercises of this kind some guard should be kept over the ground? There is no other way of keeping out active boys?

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the number of trained firemen with raid experience now being called up, what steps these men should take if they are desirous of serving with an Army fire-fighting unit, and whether instructions have been issued that men graded A I will not be so accepted?

The Army's need for trained firemen has so far been met by the recall to the Army of trained men who had been previously released for duty with the National Fire Service and who can now be spared from that service. It is therefore not intended to earmark men from intakes for fire-fighting duties but if deficiencies occur in future which cannot be made good as at present, men with the necessary experience will be transferred from other arms. There is a certain number of A 1 men in the Army fire service, but as a rule only men in lower medical categories are transferred.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether pharmacists, trained in zoology and physiology, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps or newly recruited, will be eligible for consideration for appointment to the Royal Army Medical Corps as non-medical officers?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what rank promotion will be possible for officers appointed to non-medical commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps?

Officers appointed to non-medical commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps will normally be commissioned as second lieutenants. They will be eligible for promotion to war substantive lieutenant after six months' commissioned service. Selected officers will be eligible for promotion to captain as and when vacancies arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the difficulties under which Home Guard company commanders labour in endeavouring to memorise the various instructions, countermanded instructions and amended instructions in the Army Council Instructions sent to them from the War Office, a typical example of which can be found in Army Council Instruction 1833, paragraph 3; and whether, in view of the fact that Home Guard work is supposed to be a part-time job, he will consider altering this system of instructions by reference, by the issue of some completed work to save the labour of constantly referring back as is the practice under the present system?

Yes, Sir. Army Council Instructions already issued in connection with the Home Guard are being consolidated and will be issued as Home Guard Regulations in the near future.

I am much obliged to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Richard James, The Bungalow, Green Lane, Hindley Green, Wigan, joined the Home Guard many months ago when he was an ordinary workman in the colliery; that after being appointed an official in the colliery he resigned from the Home Guard when such resignations were legal; that he was ordered to parade and did not attend; that he was prosecuted and fined by the Wigan magistrates because the Home Guard authorities contended that his resignation was not received; that since his appointment as a colliery official he has been employed on more than seven shifts a week and will he take steps to make this-resignation effective?

I am aware of the case referred to by my hon. Friend. There is no record of Mr. James' resignation being received at any time by his battalion commander. The question of Mr. James', discharge from the Home Guard on occupational grounds is, however, now being considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this man is certainly doing very much more useful service in the pit than parading in the Home Guard?

I would not admit that.

I would.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers charged with offences are frequently marched through the streets of London handcuffed to their escort; and whether he will give instructions to prevent a continuance of this practice?

I am aware of no case in which this was done, but if my hon. Friend will give me details of any, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate number of medical men who, on whatever grounds, have left the Army during the present war?

I am informed that about 800 qualified medical men have left the Army during the present war.

Is it not the fact that many of these medical men are quite suitable for utilisation in other capacities in the Army and that they are all qualified medical men who have been removed from the Army or have received then-discharge or something of that sort?

A great many of them have been, invalided out—more than half of them, in fact.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the wastage in the mines between 1st January and 19th September; how many new men or ex-miners began work in the mines in that period; and to what extent miners left the mines in the same period to obtain other work or to join the Forces?

Between 3rd January and 19th September this year, the gross wastage from the industry was 23,467: the total entries during this period were 26,957. No miners left to join the Forces, and, in view of the operation of the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Order, the whole of the wastage is therefore accounted for by death and disablement cases, by the retirement from gainful employment of older men, and by cases when ill-health prevented from continuing to work in the mines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether it is on his instructions that the heating of shops and offices has been prohibited; and whether he has considered the special difficulties of those employed in those establishments and the certain adverse effects on their health?

My right hon. Friend made General Directions under the Control of Fuel Order which prohibit central heating in controlled premises, which includes shops and offices, during the month of October, except under permit. Other forms of heating are not prohibited, but I have asked persons in charge of the heating of such premises to co-operate in the voluntary fuel economy campaign by postponing the heating of shops and offices by gas, electricity or coal until such time as central heating is permitted. The consequence of these Directions was naturally considered before they were made, but I cannot accept the implication in the latter part of my hon. Friend's Question.

Will my hon. Friend be good enough to get into touch with those societies that pay sickness benefit? He will then see that the latter part of my Question is justified. Will he also be good enough to bear in mind the provision hands in grocery shops who are working all day surrounded by marble slabs?

We certainly have been keeping in touch with various points, and I assure my hon. Friend that these matters will be considered.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider regulating temperature by the thermometer and not by the calendar?

Is it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman's Department allows central heating in smaller buildings, but not in large buildings?

I could not say offhand, but there is an exception to this Order. If circumstances are such that heating can be allowed, it is allowed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many cases instructions have been given by the Regional Coal Controllers as to the seams to be worked and the methods of conducting underground operations; and whether any changes have been required in the managing staff of the less efficient collieries with a view to obtaining an increase in output?

Regional Controllers and their staffs are constantly discussing with the various colliery companies in their regions possible methods of increasing output, and their suggestions have already been put into effect in a number of cases. Changes in managerial staff have also been put into effect in certain cases.

Will my hon. Friend reply to the first part of my Question, to which I would like a definite answer?

At the moment it is impossible to give statistics to show in how many cases this is being done.

That means that there are no cases.

Not at all.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that the Regional Coal Controllers are sufficiently well supplied with technical staff to enable them to give effective instructions, designed to increase output, to the managements of individual collieries?

I can assure the hon. Member that active steps are being taken to ensure that the Regional Controllers of the Ministry of Fuel and Power are fully supplied with adequate technical staff. They have already secured, for their senior staff, men of high qualifications and the latter are at present in the process of selecting the best available technical assistants.

Have many instructions been sent to the managements of collieries on how to work their pits?

I think the Question relates to the provision of adequate technical staff. Seniors have been appointed, but in some districts there has been a little difficulty in the way of getting suitable technical assistants.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the poor people in the Brandon and By-shottles Urban District Council area have already had their coal allowance cut; and what remedy he proposes to deal with this situation?

As has already been announced, a new scheme came into operation on 5th October under which supplies of house coal allocated to depots are apportioned on the basis of merchants' registrations. These arrangements are designed to secure equitable distribution among merchants of the available supplies of house coal, and although some readjustment of previous supplies must inevitably result, I am satisfied that the new arrangements will not cause hardship in the area to which my hon. Friend refers.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in some of these cases the allowance is only 12 stones of coal per week, and does he consider that is sufficient to heat a home having four, five, six or seven rooms and also to do all the cooking for four, five, six, seven or eight people in a family?

I have not heard that that amount has been distributed, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars, I will look into the matter.

I will, because a certain merchant supplier has had his supply reduced by three tons eight cwts. while his consumers have been increased by 39.

Let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in the production of petrol and/or other fuel from mines refuse or town sewage?

I am glad to say that progress is being made with the use of methane in road vehicles as an alternative to petrol. Some local authorities, whose sewage digestion plant yields a surplus of this gas, are already using it in their vehicles. Certain others are exploring, at the request of my Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, the possibility of installing the necessary equipment, which can now be made available. Some interesting experiments in the liquefaction of methane are taking place at one colliery, but I am unable to report any other developments in the production of petrol from mines refuse.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures of absenteeism

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what class of officers in his Ministry, or connected with the Oil Fuel Board, are allowed to obtain petrol without coupons; and for what reason?

No officers of the Ministry of Fuel obtain petrol without the surrender of coupons. In the case of the Petroleum Board, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, no officers obtain petrol for their own care without coupons, but vehicles operated by the Board in confer

In view of the number of figures involved, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, have them circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any explanation as to why the figures for Scotland which he is to send me should be less than half those of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire?

Absenteeism is a very complicated subject, and one cannot deal with all the factors which make up the figures. But the hon. Gentleman can rest assured that he will find a complete explanation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does that mean that there are conditions which apply to these two Departments which do not apply to others?

No, Sir, except that in the case of the Petroleum Board it would seem unnecessary to prohibit them from issuing petrol to themselves until they have given themselves a coupon.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is an adequate check on the people in this Department, just as in other Departments?

Yes, Sir, a very strong check.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the Petroleum Board sell oil and petrol to the Fighting Services; and what is the difference between the price charged by it and the price paid by it to the Government when purchasing oil delivered under Lease-Lend?

Oil is sold by the Petroleum Board to the Service Departments in two ways. Bulk supplies are bought at the port of arrival on the basis of c.i.f. costs plus a commission to the Board for its services in arranging ocean transport. Small scale supplies inside the United Kingdom are bought under the terms of a general Government contract with the Board which provides for a substantial rebate off the price authorised by the Government for general sales. I regret I am not able to depart from the established rule not to publish the terms on which the Government purchases goods from suppliers.

As the Government have purchased these goods from themselves, why should we not be told the margin between the price sold to themselves and the price at which they buy from themselves?

Cannot my hon. Friend say what the margin is, without disclosing the price?

That would be in conflict with the general rule I have mentioned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the inconvenience suffered by medical practitioners in country districts caused by the present petrol restrictions and the consequent danger to public health; and whether he will consider depositing extra petrol coupons with the local police, to be issued to doctors and ambulance drivers in cases of emergency, when their own supply is exhausted?

In consultation with the British Medical Association, arrangements have been made to secure that no medical practitioner shall be hampered by lack of petrol for his essential professional journeys. I am not aware of any failure of these arrangements, but I shall be happy to consider any case of which the hon. Member will give me particulars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange with the military authorities to exercise their discretion, in the interests of food production and adequate rest and sleep for those working on the land, that men should not be unduly pressed for Home Guard drill and exercises?

Instructions to this effect were issued some time ago. My experience is that Home Guard commanding officers generally have shown every consideration for the circumstances of agricultural workers and that they are working in close co-operation with the county war agricultural executive committees.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the recent prosecution in a court of law, and is he aware that in many parts of the countryside there is a feeling of disquiet against the undue measures that are being taken against agricultural workers by some Home Guard officers, measures which unduly harass men who are very hard workers?

If the hon. Member is referring to a recent case which obtained a good deal of publicity, he will know that it is sub judice. I would only assure him that there is a good deal to be said on the other side, too.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of children of school age who were employed upon agricultural work in the years 1940 and 1941, respectively, together with the number for these years from the universities, secondary and private high schools?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

The information must be of considerable public interest. Surely we can have it in due course. Will the Minister obtain it?

The difficulty is that a very large number of the children concerned do a great deal of work on the farms by private arrangement with the farmers, and we have no record at all.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the Question?

No, there is no record of that either.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a statement on the Equalisation Account?

As I have previously stated, I cannot go beyond the existing arrangement by which the annual accounts of the Exchange Equalisation Account are submitted confidentially to the Public Accounts Committee.

Is it on the right side?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will assure the House that no amendment, alteration or addition will be made to the Ottawa Monetary Report of August, 1932, and the British Currency Declaration of July, 1933, without first receiving the approval of Parliament?

No, Sir. The question whether there will at any time be any modifications of the monetary and currency policy of this country is hypothetical.

May I ask that nothing be done in this connection without the approval of the House?

The question is still hypothetical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to place the issue of money in the form of bank credit in the same legal position as the issue of bank-notes was given by the Bank Charter Act of 1844 and the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1928; that is to say, that the future increase of bank credit shall be subject to Treasury control, and that the profits accruing from such increase shall revert to His Majesty's Treasury?

No, Sir. The comparison which my hon. Friend seeks to draw between the note issue and bank credit cannot be sustained.

Is it not reasonable that bank credit should come into the same category as the issue of notes, and that any additional increase of bank credit should be controlled by the Treasury, so that the country would have the benefit of that issue?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the suggestion in the Question is that it is open to the banks to create credit without consultation with the Treasury, and will he dispel that erroneous suggestion?

I think it is held only by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names and nationality of the present directors of the Bank for International Settlements?

As the list is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Chancellor give the House now some information as to the proportion of members of the Board who belong to the Axis Powers?

I would prefer that hon. Members should see the information which I am circulating.

Does the right hon. Gentleman himself know who they are?

Yes, Sir.

Then why not tell us?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will cause the British directors of the Bank for International Settlements to submit a proposal through the American President of that bank for the liquidation of that bank?

No, Sir.