asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to show that the Italian decrees abolishing slavery and forced labour in Ethiopia are now in force; and whether the Ethiopian Government has yet issued any decrees or regulations dealing with this subject?

The Ethiopian Government issued a Proclamation on 26th August last, abolishing the state of slavery, thus carrying the previous decrees against slavery issued before the Italian occupation to the logical conclusion of total abolition. This Proclamation was published in the Ethiopian "Official Gazette" on 27th August. As stated on 18th June, the Gabar system was abolished by Proclamation on 2nd November, 1941.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any messages were conveyed to the Emperor of Ethiopia, or to the Ethiopian Government, to mark the occasion of the reopening of the Ethiopian Parliament on 2nd November?

Yes, Sir, a message of congratulation on this significant occasion was addressed by His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Ethiopia on behalf of His Majesty's Government. At the same time, as Parliament was in Recess, I took it upon myself to authorise Mr. Howe to convey a similar message on behalf of this House offering to Their Majesties and to the Ethiopian Parliament the best wishes of the British peoples for a happy and prosperous future. I trust that this step which I have taken will meet with the general approval of hon. Members in all parts of the House.

Hear, hear.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether Royal Air Force and Auxiliary Air Force officers when called upon to retire, either on account of age or when no further employment is available for them, are granted the same amount of leave on full pay and allowances as other officers in other Services?

It has now been decided that non-regular officers of the Royal Air Force and A.A.F. officers who leave the Service, either on account of age or when no further employment is available for them, shall he granted the same amount of leave on full pay and allowances as similar officers in the Army. The Regulations governing the notice and leave which regular officers receive on termination of employment are already at least as favourable as those now to be laid down for non-regular officers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this reply will give great satisfaction in the Royal Air Force? Will he tell me on what date this will become operative?

I will let my hon. and gallant Friend know the date. I have not got it by me.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can state under what circumstances honorary air commodores may now be appointed to flying and balloon squadrons of the Royal Air Force?

For the present; new appointments as honorary air commodores are made only in the case of flying squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force. The peace-time practice of making such appointments to balloon squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force has been temporarily discontinued. The organisation of balloon squadrons must of necessity be fluid and no useful purpose would therefore be served by appointing honorary officers in posts which might become redundant.

In congratulating my right hon. Friend upon this matter, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that flying squadrons are also fluid and why the difference is made between these Commands?

Flying squadrons are not being amalgamated and their organisation profoundly altered, as is happening necessarily in the case of balloon squadrons, but I agree that there will come a time when we can say that we have reached stabilisation—[HON. MEMBERS: "We cannot hear."] I am addressing the Chair.

The Chair is not behind the right hon. Gentleman.

And when we have reached such stabilisation I would be perfectly willing to consider the point raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many copies of the official journal, known as the Royal Air Force Journal, circulated to all ranks of the Royal Air Force, are circulated and how often; who is the editor of this journal; when was he appointed; what is his age, rank and medical category; what was his occupation in civil life; and is he satisfied that, under this editorship, there will be no deterioration in the value of the journal from the technical and/or moral standpoint?

"The Royal Air Force Journal" is at present published fortnightly and distributed on a basis of one copy for every 200 serving airmen. It is about to be issued in a revised form at monthly intervals, with a substantially larger circulation. The editor is Squadron Leader R. B. Raymond, who was appointed in October, 1942, after filling the post of assistant editor for 15 months. Before that he served for 18 months in the ranks. Squadron Leader Raymond is 36 years old, and his medical category is "fit for ground duties." In civil life he was employed in a London publishing firm. The answer to the last part of the Question is "Yes."

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the technical side of this journal is conducted satisfactorily?

Certainly, Sir. I am responsible in general to this House, but responsibility for the articles and for controlling the policy of the journal is discharged for me by the Director of Personal Services in the Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with the crashing of an aeroplane at Cliffe, Kent, on Saturday, 24th October; how many people were injured; what property was damaged; and what was' the cause of the accident?

This accident occurred when a Royal Air Force aircraft crashed on returning from an operational flight. The causes of the accident are being investigated by a court of inquiry. The crew of seven and one civilian were killed and two civilians were injured. Four cottages and a farmhouse were destroyed. I am sure that the House would wish to join with me in expressing sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with those injured as a result of this regrettable accident.

Will the relatives of the people who were killed, or the injured, get compensation?

That will certainly be considered in accordance, with the usual practice.

Do I understand that to mean that it will be a decision, after the inquiry, as to whether compensation will be paid to the parents of those killed, and to the injured?

Any question about personal injury to civilians should be addressed to the Minister of Pensions. If my hon. Friend is thinking of damage to land and buildings, then the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible.

No, I am thinking about the people who are injured.

In that case I am saying it is a case for the Minister of Pensions.

Surely if a vehicle belonging to the Crown injures a civilian that civilian has the same rights against the Crown as he would have against an ordinary civilian who caused such an accident?

If the hon. Member wishes to pursue this and wishes to know which Minister in the Government is responsible for dealing with the question of compensation to civilians, that member of the Government is the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of recent pronouncements by the director of the Air Training Corps that one of the chief aims of that organisation is to encourage ex-elementary school boys to train for entry to the Royal Air Force as air crews, how many Air Training Corps cadets whose full-time education was obtained solely at elementary schools passed the examinations for proficiency certificates, pilots and observers, up to 31st July, 1942; what percentage they represent of the estimated total strength of the Air Training Corps; and what percentage of the failures were due to failure in the mathematics paper?

Approximately 5,500 cadets who received full-time education solely at elementary schools gained proficiency certificates (air crew) in the period in question. This figure represented about 40 per cent. of the total proficient cadets over the same period and about 2¾ per cent. of the total strength of the Air Training Corps at 31st July, 1942. The proportion of failures in mathematics was about 50 per cent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that we are making full use in this service of ex-elementary school boys who have gone into industry?

Yes, Sir. I hope the hon. Member will be satisfied when he considers my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give a list of towns in Germany attacked by the Royal Air Force and the number of times each was visited, with the war factories damaged on each occasion?

As the answer to the Question is rather long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the increase in pay to the Air Force and the rise in the cost of living, he is prepared to consider an addition to the allowances paid to aircraft apprentices?

I am looking into the matter referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Information who is responsible for the selection of the Sunday night post script broadcasts?

The B.B.C. select the broadcasts, but they consult the Ministry in advance regarding subjects and speakers.

Is the Minister aware that an hon. Member of this House, at the request of the Corporation, prepared a script for one of those broadcasts, the said script being a careful paraphrase of the Sermon on the Mount, and that it was rejected on three grounds; firstly, that it was Fascist; secondly, that it was anti-working-class; thirdly, that it was anti-Christian?

I am not aware of the case mentioned by my hon. Friend, but the B.B.C. is strongly opposed to repetition.

Is the Ministry consulted as to personnel broadcasting on Sunday night or any other night, and is the Ministry ever influenced by outside representations, for example, the views of the 1922 Committee?

No, Sir, we are not in the slightest bit influenced. We treat this matter as a judicial one. We are subject to no pressure of any kind.

Can the Minister say why certain—

rose—

asked the Minister of Information whether steps will be taken to denationalise the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to enabling it to become freer and more representative of current opinion in the country than is the case under the present system of dual control between the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Information?

The hon. Gentleman's conversion to the merits of private enterprise is indeed noteworthy. But I regret I cannot accept his suggestion. The Board of Governors recognise that it is necessary in war-time for the Government to control the policy of the B.B.C. in matters affecting the war effort. I do not think that this measure of Government control has prevented the B.B.C. from adequately reflecting current opinion in the country.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the fact that the "Daily Worker" may now be exported to foreign countries, he will lift the export ban on "Russia To-day"?

Neither of these papers is exempt from the export ban but His Majesty's Government have the matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Information the dates upon which were given the 11 broadcasts by the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom to which he referred in his reply on 21st October to a Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall)?

The B.B.C. inform me that their records show six talks given in the Home Service by the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom (Sir A. Southby) between January and August, 1941, and five in the Overseas Service. The latter were recorded repeats of home talks, and for the purpose of the list given on 21st October they were regarded as separate broadcasts.

Does my right hon. Friend mean that the figures given in his answer on 21st October are not necessarily the number of times a Member has broadcast, but include repetitions of the broadcasts; that, for example, he might actually have broadcast only once and appear in the list as having broadcast 50 times?

My hon. and gallant Friend is completely right. I think the B.B.C. mathematics are rather Einstein-like.

Do I understand that the Minister still takes the view that the B.B.C. do not believe in repetition?

Will the Minister now give a list of the number of times Members of this House have actually broadcast, not repetitions, but the number of times they have gone to the microphone?

Can the Minister tell us how many times the broadcaster was paid?

I do not know anything about the financial arrangements made between the B.B.C. and those who broadcast. I was asked about the number of recordings, not about the number of broadcasts, but if the hon. and gallant Member feels upset about this, I will certainly give him an answer.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the Question he was asked on 21st October? He was asked whether he would give the number of occasions upon which Members of the House of Commons had spoken on the broadcast during the war.

I am willing to give the hon. and gallant Member the figures he desires. I felt myself that this enormous list was a great waste of time, but, if necessary, I will produce another one, and I hope it will be more accurate.

asked the Minister of Information what action he has taken on his decision to exercise a stricter control on Press messages from this country; whether statements made in Parliament containing criticism of the Government, or any of our Allies, or any member of the Administration will be censored; and if so, whether he will exercise the censorship himself?

Censorship of Press messages from this country is being carried out in accordance with the principles laid down in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Aylesbury (Sir S. Reed), on 26th March. Messages correctly reporting statements made in Parliament are not censored, whether or not they contain criticism of members of the Government or of anyone else.

Does the Minister say that no instruction has recently been issued which purports to censor statements made in this House which may reflect on the conduct of members of the Administration, including himself? Is he certain about that?

I am absolutely certain. I am the only person who could issue such an instruction, and I would not dream of issuing an instruction that criticisms of any member of the Administration—including myself—should not be properly reported.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do me the favour of making very careful inquiries into this, because I have some contrary information?

I am more than willing to make a careful inquiry, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me the information he has. I will certainly make an inquiry, because it would be a very grave matter indeed if the hon. Gentleman's statement was accurate.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether, in view of the increase during the war of parcel postage and the burden especially in country districts placed upon postmen and post-women, he will consider reducing the maximum weight of single parcels to be accepted, which at present stands at 15 lbs.?

I do not consider it desirable to reduce the maximum weight limit of 15 lb. for an inland parcel. Such a reduction would inconvenience the public, especially in country districts, and would not necessarily lessen the total load to be carried by the postman or postwoman. Limits are placed on the loads carried on foot and cycle posts.

asked the Postmaster-General the reasons for the serious increase in claims met for entire loss in respect of registered letters and parcels as between 1940–41 and 1941–42; and what steps have been taken to check any further increase in these losses?

The increase in payments of compensation for loss of registered letters and registered parcels arises mainly from the increase in thefts of mails while in course of transit. Such thefts are facilitated by war-time conditions and particularly by the effects of the black-out. I was seriously concerned at the increase which took place in 1941–42 and have taken every practicable step to improve the position. The supervision at railway stations and elsewhere has been strengthened and the railway companies have co-operated with the Post Office in other preventive measures. The matter continues to receive my closest attention.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the Admiralty offices in Bath have yet started any form of artificial heating; and, if so, when?

Yes, Sir. Heating has been allowed where necessary in all these buildings since 26th October, when the Minister of Fuel and Power raised the ban on central heating in offices. Before that date, with the consent of the Regional Controller' of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, heating was allowed on occasions in certain wooden huts and other buildings where special conditions justified it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable feeling was aroused in the City of Bath when central heating was allowed in Admiralty wooden huts before the prescribed date but not in houses which still have no windows, owing to the blitz?

All I can say is that we need to get the work of the Admiralty done; and in some of the wooden huts—in a drawing office, for example—it was necessary, when the outside temperature was 45 degrees, to have central heating in order to get the work done.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the cost of delivering a letter, which was of no immediate im- portance, by special messenger to the hon. Member for Frome at her flat in Cadogan Gardens on Sunday, 18th October?

The letter was sent in reply to an inquiry by the hon. Member. The cost of delivery by special messenger was trivial.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the cash allowance, in lieu of civilian clothes, given to men discharged from the Royal Navy?

The cash allowance now given to men discharged from the Royal Navy, to assist them in providing themselves with civilian clothes, is £2 15s. 10d., which is the same as that given to men discharged from the other fighting Services. Alternatively, he may be given a civilian suit, cap, collar and tie.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that such a sum is grossly inadequate, especially at the present time, and will he reconsider the position, with the object of making a substantial increase?

This is the result of a revision which brought what was certainly an unsatisfactory allowance into line with that for the other Services. A review would be a matter for application to the whole of the Services.

In view of the fact that the amount has been increased from 18s. 8d. to £2 15s. 10d., would it not be as well for another revision to take place, with a similar increase?

I shall be very glad to consult with the other Service Ministers on the point.

In addition to supplying the man with a cap, would it not be as well to supply him with some string to tie up his parcels?

Is the payment the same in summer as in winter?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the widow of a naval officer-is provided with a free travel warrant when attending an Investiture in order to receive a decoration for distinguished service awarded posthumously to her husband?

Yes, Sir The next-of-kin of a deceased naval officer or man summoned to attend an Investiture to receive a decoration is granted a free return railway warrant for the journey. This concession is also available for the relative who is invited to accompany the next-of-kin to the ceremony. Instructions for obtaining warrants are sent with the summons to the Investiture, from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

In view of the difficulties which might arise about granting a travelling warrant of the same class as that to which the lady would have been entitled had her husband been alive, would my right hon. Friend see that the widows of all these heroes are sent to London first-class when they go to receive the decorations won by their husbands?

That is a matter which must be dealt with on the basis of all the Services, and not of one in particular, but I will draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the question which the hon. and gallant Member has put.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a regular registration of unemployed workers is now in operation in Jamaica; the number so registered to the nearest approximate date; and what number of unemployed workers are at present engaged on relief work throughout the island?

There is an employment bureau in Kingston and several country centres for the registration of unemployed workers. I have no up-to-date figures of registered unemployed workers or of persons engaged on relief works. The Governor will be asked to supply the figures.

Does the information which the right hon. Gentleman has show that the number is diminishing or that it is increasing?

I have no very up-to-date figures; that is why I am asking for the most recent figures.

When will those figures be available?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a Question shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement regarding the present food shortage in the West Indian Colonies; and whether any definite steps have been taken by any of the West Indian Colonial Governments to organise the increased production of rice and other necessary foods of which there is an acute shortage?

Yes, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend in this connection to the full reply which I gave on this and related subjects on the 29th July to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. D. Adams). Active steps have since been taken to carry out the measures described in that statement, and I am glad to say that as a result there has in the last month or two been a substantial improvement in the stocks of food available in these Colonies. Considerable progress has also been made in the development of the local production of food.

Have the steps which have been taken been on the initiative of the Government, or is the matter left to private enterprise?

They have been taken on the initiative of the Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the action of the Governor of Jamaica in declaring the Jamaica Government Railway Employees' Union to be illegal was taken with his authority?

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies why the Jamaica Government declared that the Railway Workers' Union was illegal; and what he intends doing about the matter?

On 22nd October, Defence Regulations entitled "The Authorised Associations (Government Departments) (Derence) Regulations" were published in Jamaica and came into force, the effect or which was to exclude all non-employees from membership or office in the departmental trade unions except by the Governor's authority. My Noble Friend is informed that this action became necessary in view of the key positions in relation to vital services occupied by some of the office holders, not departmentally employed, who were known to be engaged in subversive activities. My Noble Friend's approval was not obtained before the Regulations were issued. He is already in consultation with the Governor in regard to the situation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is meant by "subversive activities," and, secondly, will he make certain that Jamaican trade unionists have exactly the same rights as British trade unionists?

With regard to the first question, similar Regulations are applied in this country, and people have been detained under Regulation 18B. On the second point, my Noble Friend is in consultation with the Governor, and I hope to make a statement shortly.

Would trade union officers in this country be liable to the same kind of prosecution as those in Jamaica have experienced?

Yes, Sir, if—as I think is, fortunately, unlikely—they were to engage in subversive activities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that leaders of the North Rhodesian Copper Workers' Union were imprisoned for what is called subversive activity in making demands for a cost of living bonus on their wages and for the establishment of a pension scheme?

If I may be allowed to answer that question, which is not related to the Question on the Paper, both statements by my hon. Friend are incorrect. No demands of that kind had been made, and no trade dispute of any sort or kind existed at the time in the North Rhodesian Copperbelt.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the serious effect on lime growers in the West Indies of the decision not to permit the importation of unconcentrated lime juice into Great Britain after the close of this year; whether any steps are being taken to establish any concentration process in the West Indian islands chiefly concerned; and whether any other measures are being taken by the local colonial governments to relieve the situation?

I am aware of the decision to discontinue the importation as from the 1st January, 1943, of unconcentrated citrus juices from the West Indies, on shipping grounds. One producer in Jamaica is capable of producing concentrated juice, but facilities do not, according to my information, exist for this purpose elsewhere in the West Indies. I am not aware that any producers, other than the one Jamaican concern which I have mentioned, are proposing to acquire concentrating plant, and indeed in the present shortage of equipment of all kinds this plant would be very hard to obtain. Proposals by the Government of Jamaica for the relief of the citrus industry, involving the use of £60,000 from a United Kingdom grant, have been approved.

Is anything being done in the smaller islands of Montserrat and Dominica to meet the economic distress caused by the present position?

That is a broad question which I dealt with only in the answer referred to just now, and active steps are being taken to promote alternative production, mostly food production, in all the islands.

In order to satisfy the need in this country will my right hon. Friend see that there is more production of citrous products; and would it be possible for my right hon. Friend to increase the grant that he is making to the West Indies in order to enable the Ministry of Health in this country to bring more of the citrous products to the children of this country?

That Question should really be addressed to my Noble Friend the Minister of Food. Our duty is to meet, as far as possible, the requests made for purchases by the Ministry of Food, the Ministry of Supply and other Government Departments. We do that as much as we can, but apart from that we have to stimulate alternative production and help in every way anyone who because of war conditions is not able to sell his ordinary commodities.