asked the Minister of Fuel and Power who are the purchasing agents for coal which goes to Government dumps; what commissions they receive; what services they render; what is the tonnage involved; and how they were selected?

Agents appointed to purchase coal for Government dumps are coal factors nominated by the Ministry's regional officers in the supplying coalfields. These agents are required to purchase coal in consultation with the Ministry's regional officers, charter vessels for coal to be transported by sea, consign the coal to the Ministry's contractors at the dumps, arrange for the issue of advice notes, ensure that the coal is delivered to the contractor and that it is the right quality and pay the colliery's accounts and the freight and toll charges. Seventy-nine purchasing agents have been employed this year to deal with consignments amounting to about 500,000 tons. Purchasing agents are remunerated on the basis of 4d. a ton for all railborne coal and 6d. a ton on all seaborne coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total output of coal for each of the eight weeks of the output bonus periods already expired and the number of wage-earners on the colliery books for each week, with similar figures for the corresponding weeks of 1941?

It would not be in the public interest to publish regularly the figures relating to individual weeks, but with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the weekly average for each of the two bonus periods and corresponding figures for a year ago.

Would not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that having regard to the fact that there are a larger number of men in the industry than at the corresponding period of last year the results are still a little disappointing?

I agree, as I have already said in public, that they are not as satisfactory as I should like to see them, but I think we must also bear in mind that the tendency in the earlier part of the summer for a steady decline in output has been halted and the position has been reversed, which is very satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give the percentage of man-shifts lost which could have been worked, including absences due to sickness or accident, for each of the eight weeks ended the 31st October this year, together with the corresponding weeks in 1941?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but figures for 1941 are only available on a monthly basis.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the members of the Central Council under the Central Coal Mines Schemes, 1930; how are they appointed and what are their functions; and whether the Central Council have any control over the application of the Mining Industry Essential Work Order, with particular reference to the payment of the guaranteed wage to mineworkers?

There are 47 members of the Central Council appointed by the Executive Boards of Coalmining Districts in proportion to the outputs of the various districts. The Central Council is representative of the owners of coal mines, and is appointed under the terms of the Central Scheme for regulating the production, supply and sale of coal by owners of coal mines situated in Great Britain; the Central Scheme was made by the industry and approved by the Board of Trade, under Section 1 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, and the functions of the Central Council are laid down in Section 2 of the same Act. Coalowners individually are required to pay guaranteed wages becoming due to mineworkers under the terms of the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Order. The Central Council have no control over the conditions under which such payments are made, nor the application of the Order.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the matters brought to his notice, including the employment of a director of the contracting company in the office of his Ministry from which the contract was let for unloading and stacking coal at the Solihull reserve dump and in view of the controversy between local merchants and his Ministry with regard to the circumstances in which the contract was let, he will arrange for an inquiry to be held by an independent person into those circumstances and the performance of the contract?

Yes, Sir.

I thank my right hon. and gallant Friend for that reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to enabling retailers who were established prior to the war to re-establish themselves, he will consider the introduction of legislation to prohibit new retail businesses being opened for the remainder of the war under any circumstances and for a period of three years after the war, except under special licence?

No new retail businesses in most non-food goods may now be set up except under licence from the Board of Trade who are advised by the local price regulation committees. The general policy is to give licences only where it is clearly established that these are necessary in order to meet the needs of the public. I cannot at present make any statement as to post-war arrangements; but, as I announced in the House on 13th October, I am making a register of traders who have withdrawn from business during the war.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the precarious position of the small trader with a turnover of from £5,000 to £10,000 a year, whose business has taken a lifetime to build up, and who will have to have every possible assistance both now and after the war?

As my hon. Friend knows, I am now concentrating on the present. That does not mean that we are losing sight of the future, but I am anxious to get the present machinery working well.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that both the present and the future call for deep thought and care?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue permits to county war agricultural committees for rubber boots for agricultural labourers whose boots are worn out?

Owing to the acute shortage of rubber the production of rubber boots has been drastically curtailed. A fair share of the very limited supplies has been allocated to agricultural workers and, within this allocation, buying permits are issued each quarter through the county war agricultural committees.

Was it not promised that agricultural labourers should have these boots?

Yes, Sir. I said that buying permits are issued from the county war agricultural committees out of the limited supply. We make them go as far as we can, and I anxious that agricultural workers should have their fair share.

In the cases I have in mind there are any amount of boots in the shops, but they have not the permits that the agricultural committees want to give but cannot give.

Yes, but I have to try to make the limited supply go round, including the supplies to the shops.

May I ask whether the distribution of these permits is left to the discretion of agricultural committees or whether the agricultural labourers have any right of application?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to put down that Question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many country shops in Eastern England it is impossible to get these boots, and that if you walk round any town shops you can get as many as you like; and will he give a fair distribution, as it is no use getting permits if you cannot get the boots?

My hon. Friend is misinformed in saying that he can get as many boots as he likes. If he will tell me where he can get as-many as he likes, I shall be obliged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that bombed-out families receive coupons for curtains for one window only and are required to fix black-out curtains or shutters to the remainder, which necessitates the burning of artificial light during the day; and whether he will now give instructions for extra coupons to be issued to provide adequate curtains?

I have recently made arrangements whereby bombed-out families may obtain, coupon-free, sufficient rationed curtain material to furnish their main living room. Black-out cloth is coupon-free in any case.

In view of the fact that these people have suffered considerable hardship, will the right hon. Gentleman, in the goodness of his heart, now reconsider the question to see whether he can give them coupons for more than one window?

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to the answer he would have heard that that has already been done. Arrangements have been made whereby they can obtain sufficient rationed curtain material coupon-free to furnish their main living-room.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will endeavour to see that women's stockings which are offered for sale are made of more durable material?

Before the war most women's stockings were made of rayon, but large quantities were imported. Such imports have now, of course, ceased, but I am advised that the present quality of rayon stockings is at least as good as that of those produced in this country before the war. My attention has, however, been drawn to certain complaints that have been made, and I hope that, as a result of discussions between my officers and the hosiery manufacturers, there will be improvements in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider revising the regulation requiring the surrender of coupons for household necessities?

No, Sir. As I have recently informed the House, in view of the shortage of towels, I have increased substantially the allocation of cotton yarn for their manufacture, but this has necessarily been at the expense of other cotton goods. In order to ensure that the limited supplies of towels and teacloths available are fairly distributed, rationing is essential; but other household necessities are not rationed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not forget that stockings take two coupons and frequently are destroyed in one day; and in view of this and the shortage of coupons will he not consider helping the housewife still further in regard to these household necessities?

This Question referred to household goods, and I thought that my hon. Friend was referring to towels.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions the journal known as-the "United Services Review," is distributed by the War Office; and if service men receive any benefits from the profits of the journal?

Copies of this journal are distributed to the three Services through the Services Central Book Depot. No charge is made to the recipients of the Review or to the War Department. The question of benefiting from any profits does not therefore arise.

Is the Minister aware that this Journal is run by a private company and that there are advertisements appearing in it which bring in fabulous sums to this private company, paid almost entirely by the Government, because the cost of them is a deduction for tax purposes? Will he look carefully into the matter, because it resembles very closely a racket?

I do not accept' that, but, as I say, neither the Government nor the recipients are charged for the "Review," and I do not quite see what I can do about it.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter upon the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make a statement regarding the pay and promotion of quartermasters?

Yes, Sir. I have come to the conclusion that under wartime conditions some modification in the conditions of pay and promotion of quartermasters is justified. I have decided that as a war measure an officer of the quartermaster class shall be eligible for promotion to the war substantive rank of captain on completing three years' full pay commissioned service in the present war. This promotion will carry with it an increase of pay to 19s. a day.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Department will re-employ Mr. A. A. Saffell, of 102, High Street, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, whose appeal against his dismissal from the Ordnance Depot at Chilwell, in March, 1942, after over three years employment, was allowed by the Substituted Appeal Board held at the War Office on 10th April, 1942; and will he be paid any compensation for loss of earnings during the period he has been unemployed since his wrongful dismissal?

The case of Mr. Saffell has received full and careful consideration. I cannot agree that his dismissal can be described as in any way a wrongful dismissal, and I am accordingly unable to give directions that he should be reinstated.

Does my right hon. Frined's answer mean that the Essential Work Order does not apply against the War Department although it may apply against an employee of the War Department, and that if the employee is dismissed the War Department do not have to reinstate him?

No, Sir, but that is another question, and if my hon. and gallant Friend wants a full answer to it, perhaps he will put down a Question.

Did not the National Service officer, in the case referred to, decide that the War Office should reinstate the man?

No, Sir, I do not think so. There was an appeal to a referee or a tribunal, or whatever it was. There is a Question down to the Minister of Labour for a later time, in which the point is being raised.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the appeal against dismissal was heard by a substitute appeal board, held at the War Office on 10th April, and that it allowed the appeal, but that the Department has not reinstated the man?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of all the facts. I have been into the case very carefully.

In view of that position, what is the purpose of the appeal board if no notice is taken of it?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the widow of a soldier killed at parachute training has received a telegram informing her of his death and that either his body could be sent home but no other expenses, funeral or travelling would be allowed, or else the funeral would be held locally and free railway warrants issued for only two persons to travel there upon application to the police; and whether he will take steps to prevent a repetition of such-treatment which causes unnecessary suffering to widows of Service men?

I do not know whether my hon. Friend complains that the telegram sent in this case was brusque or that it said nothing of the grant which is made towards the cost of the funeral expenses incurred by the relatives. The normal practice is as follows. When a soldier dies on duty a telegram is sent to his next-of-kin asking whether it is desired (i) that the soldier shall be buried by the Military authorities, or (ii) that the body shall be sent home. In the first case the whole expense of the funeral is borne by the public, and two railway passes are issued, upon application to the nearest police station, for two persons (one a relative) to attend the funeral. In the second case, the cost of the conveyance of the body home is accepted as a charge against the public, and, in addition, a sum of £7 10s. 0d. (less any expense incurred by the military authorities for the coffin, etc.) is allowed towards the cost of the funeral expenses incurred by the relatives. If my hon. Friend considers that the particular case to which he refers should be looked into further I will gladly do so if he will forward me the particulars.

Is the Minister aware that the telegram was cast in very cold terms and will he agree that in circumstances such as these it should at least be of a most sympathetic nature and should state the amount of expenses which are to be allowed to the widow?

I will look into that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a discharged soldier, admitted to the Royal Hospital at Chelsea for investigation and observation resulting from a claim to a disability pension, is not granted any allowance in respect of the maintenance of any dependants whilst staying in hospital and consequently unemployed; and from what source the support of such a man's dependants should be obtained?

Payments have not hitherto been made from Army funds in respect of the maintenance of any dependants of claimants to disability pensions admitted to a military hospital for investigation and observation, but the matter is under review and I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are Army personnel, stationed at points which are particularly liable to attack by subversive elements in Northern Ireland, who have, as yet, been provided with no arms for self-defence; and whether he will remedy this without delay?

I am aware that in certain static units some men are not fully armed. I am satisfied, however, that adequate protection is provided for them and for the camps, depots and other military establishments occupied by them. I do not consider that special arrangements need be made in Northern Ireland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that repeated applications have been made without any result whatever, and that the danger has been pointed out over and over again?

Yes, Sir, but in the view of the military authorities the danger is adequately provided for by the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider setting up a committee to report on land utilisation in Scottish rural areas so that the Scottish people may be informed, as the English and Welsh people have already been informed by the Scott Report, about the nature and scope of the problem in Scotland?

I would remind my hon. Friend that, after consultation with the Council of Ex-Secretaries of State, I have already appointed authoritative committees to consider many subjects of vital importance to the Scottish countryside such as hill sheep, land settlement, hydroelectric development and the herring industry. I have also reconstituted the statutory Advisory Committees on Housing and Education which will, of course, review conditions in the country as well as in the town. The Scottish Council on Industry will also concern itself with the establishment and maintenance of rural industries. The work of the committee suggested by my hon. Friend would duplicate the various inquiries now being undertaken, and accordingly I do not think that the appointment of such a body would be desirable.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, if the Government produce a policy based on the recommendations of the Scott Committee, Scotland will be required to accept that policy without further inquiry?

No, Sir.

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 Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement of Government policy on the subject of marginal land cultivation in Scotland?

Yes, Sir. As the statement is long, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT: but I may say the main points are that assistance will be given towards the cost of carrying out approved operations on marginal land, and for the maintenance of breeding cows on hill and upland grazing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to combat the menace of venereal disease by means of propaganda designed to encourage preventive measures and to secure immediate treatment in cases of infection?

I hope to issue to local health authorities this week a circular reminding them of the continuing need for enlightenment of the public about venereal disease and urging them to consider at once, an expansion of their arrangements in this respect.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the menace is now so serious that he ought to take direct action in his own Department over the heads of the local authorities?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Government have introduced a Regulation on this subject which, from a medical point of View, is so limited in character that it will be quite ineffective in stamping out venereal disease?

That Regulation has been drafted on the advice of our skilled medical officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Committee which is inquiring into the herring fishing industry is expected to report?

I understand that an interim report on certain points which are considered to be of immediate importance will be submitted by the Committee at an early date.

Are any representatives of the English fishing industry on the Committee? Is my right hon. Friend aware that a large proportion of the herring caught in peace-time are caught by English boats, and that the English boats are entitled, therefore, to representation?

I should like to see those Questions on the Order Paper.

Will that interim report be a public document?

I think so, but I cannot pledge myself offhand.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the decrease of privileges and facilities which have been demanded from Members of Parliament and of the increase in rights and immunities of Departmental heads of the Civil Service, the Government will take steps to adjust these matters?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would be good enough to let me know exactly what he has in mind in putting his Question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the large number of inter-Departmental rules and regulations which are introduced direct and which the general public believe are brought before, and agreed to by, Parliament, and will he look into this question of the inter-Departmental rules and regulations which are not approved by Parliament, of which very large numbers are offensive to all members of the general public?

That seems to me to be a different Question. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put it down.

My Question was aimed directly at inter-Departmental rules.

My hon. Friend did not come very near the target.

But the target is still there.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of recent arbitration court awards which have given equal pay to men and women engaged on the same work, he will cause the same principle to be applied to men and women in the Civil Service, more particularly since this House has expressed itself in favour of this?

I see nothing in recent arbitration awards which would lead the Government to reconsider the policy regarding differentiation in pay between men and women civil servants. This policy was explained by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6th April, 1936, when dealing with the expression of opinion to which my hon. Friend refers.

Are we to assume that when this House determines that a certain thing ought to be done in the public service of this country, the Government consider themselves free to disregard that expression of opinion by the House?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend will no doubt recall that the Government took certain action after that Motion was passed.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the Government should set an example to the private employers of this country?

The Government are always setting an example.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the concession granted to taxpayers whereby Income Tax is not to be based on the previous year but on actual amounts received where the total income has been reduced by more than 20 per cent. owing to the war, he will consider dating such concession from the tax deduction period commencing 1st November, 1942, in respect of the year 1942–43, where taxpayers have been very badly affected owing to the spread of the war to the Far East?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the law provides that the relief to which he refers is to be given either by reduction of the second instalment of fax or by repayment. In the case of income to which the deduction scheme applies, the second instalment for 1942–43 is deductible from emoluments over the period of six months beginning on 1st May, 1943. In general, it will not be possible to determine whether there is a title to relief for that year until after 5th April, 1943, when the actual earned in-come for the year is known, and it would riot therefore be practicable, as a general rule, to give relief by reduction of the tax deductible from emoluments in the period beginning 1st November, 1942. There may, however, be some cases in which the taxpayer can show that the reduction in his income for the year 1942–43 is likely to be so great as to justify relief which Would reduce his total tax bill below the amount deductible in the November deduction period, and if, in such cases, the full facts are put before the Inland Revenue authorities special arrangements may be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the Income Tax assessments of workers who have been transferred to other employment where their earnings are considerably less, with the result that their Income Tax payments will fall to be met at a time when their earnings have been reduced owing to Government action; and whether he proposes to remedy this hardship?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on this Question on 20th October.—[OFFICIAL REPORT; col 1837, Vol. 383.]

I beg to give notice that I shall move an Amendment on this matter when the Chancellor introduces his Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in order to save man-power he will issue an order to compel banks to discontinue allowing interest on current account balances and deposits other than genuine savings deposits; and whether he will secure for the taxpayer the amounts thus saved by reducing the Treasury Bill rate and the rate on Treasury Deposit Receipts?

I am not prepared to adopt this suggestion. Taking all relevant factors into account, I think the present level of rates of interest on Treasury Bills and Treasury Deposit Receipts is a reasonable one.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York have recently reduced their rate to ½ per cent.? Why cannot the Bank of England take similar action, and thereby reduce the cost of the war to the taxpayers of this country?

I am aware of that; but, as my hon. Friend will appreciate, there is a considerable difference in the conditions of the two countries.

There is no need for a difference in the money rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of payments made by the War Damage Commission for the first half of the current financial year?

No, Sir. The War Damage Act, 1941, provides that statements of such payments shall be prepared in relation to each financial year, and laid before Parliament on or before 30th November next following the expiration of that year. It would be contrary to the public interest to publish periodically more up-to-date figures relating to shorter periods.